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Three siblings — Beth, Carl, and Donna — inherit their parents' farm in rural Saline County, Arkansas, as tenants in common. Beth owns 50%, Carl owns 30%, and Donna owns 20%. Carl wants to sell his interest but Beth and Donna refuse to sell. Carl files a partition action in court. Which of the following outcomes is most consistent with Arkansas law?

Correct Answer

B) The court may order a physical partition of the land or, if partition in kind is impractical, order a sale of the entire property and divide the proceeds according to ownership percentages

Under Arkansas law, any co-owner in a tenancy in common — regardless of the size of their interest — has the right to seek a partition action in court. The court has two primary remedies: (1) partition in kind, which physically divides the property among the co-owners according to their interests, or (2) partition by sale, where the court orders the entire property sold and the proceeds distributed proportionally. Courts prefer partition in kind when feasible, but if the property cannot be practically divided (as is often the case with farmland), a sale of the entire property may be ordered. Carl's 30% interest is sufficient to bring the action.

Answer Options
A
Carl cannot force a partition because he owns less than a majority interest in the property
B
The court may order a physical partition of the land or, if partition in kind is impractical, order a sale of the entire property and divide the proceeds according to ownership percentages
C
The court will order only Carl's 30% share to be sold, leaving Beth and Donna's interests intact
D
Carl must first obtain written consent from both Beth and Donna before filing a partition action

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

tenancy_in_commonpartitionpartition_by_saleco_ownershipownership_types

Related Concepts

A freehold estate represents ownership of real property with an indefinite duration.

Joint tenancy is a form of co-ownership in which two or more persons hold equal, undivided interests in property with the right of survivorship. When one joint tenant dies, their interest automatically passes to the surviving joint tenants.

A leasehold estate grants the right to possess and use property for a defined period of time, without conferring ownership.

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