Getting a referee appointed usually takes some time. This may take several weeks or even several months after the partition action is filed. The California court system must go through the following steps before the referee can step in and take any action.
First, the court has to confirm that the complainant has the right to partition. This is done through one of three methods: a trial, a summary adjudication process, or stipulation.
Second, the court makes an interlocutory judgment determining the interests of each party. At this point, the court orders the partition of the property. This is usually when the manner of partition is determined.