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Three siblings — Anna, Ben, and Carla — inherit a lakefront cabin in northern Minnesota as tenants in common, each owning an undivided one-third interest. Anna wants to sell her share, but Ben and Carla refuse to sell. Under Minnesota law, what is Anna's most appropriate legal remedy?

Correct Answer

D) Anna may file a partition action in district court to force either a physical division of the property or a court-ordered sale with proceeds divided among the co-owners.

Under Minnesota law, any co-owner of real property held as tenants in common may bring a partition action in district court when co-owners cannot agree on the disposition of the property. The court may order either a partition in kind (physical division of the land) or, if physical division is impractical (as is often the case with a single cabin), a partition by sale, where the property is sold and the proceeds are divided proportionally among the co-owners. This remedy is available under Minn. Stat. Ch. 558.

Answer Options
A
Anna must first offer her interest to Ben and Carla under Minnesota's right of first refusal statute before selling to a third party.
B
Anna cannot sell her interest without the consent of Ben and Carla because all co-owners must agree to any transfer.
C
Anna may sell her one-third interest to any buyer she chooses, but the buyer will automatically become a joint tenant with Ben and Carla.
D
Anna may file a partition action in district court to force either a physical division of the property or a court-ordered sale with proceeds divided among the co-owners.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

partition actiontenancy in commonpartition by salepartition in kindMinn. Stat. Ch. 558

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