Opinion ID: 2207646
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Partition Proceedings Concurrent Interests Severed

Text: Partition means a severance of interests which are concurrent. 1 American Law of Property § 4.96 (1952). Such types of contemporaneous co-ownerships are usually either joint tenancies or tenancies in common. Id. The purpose of a partition proceeding is to eliminate a present concurrent interest in the same property so that each owner may enjoy and possess his or her interest in severalty. Dixon v. Dixon, 189 Neb. 212, 202 N.W.2d 180, 181 (1972). See Pleasanton v. Bell, Del.Supr., 1 Del.Cas. 511 (1814). The Delaware partition statute recognizes the common law equitable right to sever concurrent ownership interests in the same real property. 25 Del.C. § 721(a). See Knight v. Knight, Del.Ch., 89 A. 595 (1914). The Delaware statute also recognizes that partition may be had notwithstanding the fact that the concurrent ownership interest held by any parcener, joint tenant or tenant in common may be for less estate than a fee. 25 Del.C. § 721(c). Accordingly, Peters had standing to petition for partition of the Houston Farm in order to sever the concurrent ownership of his life interest from the fee simple interests owned by Robert and Thomas, Sr. The Delaware partition statute recognizes the unique nature of real property. Consequently, the Delaware statute continues the common law preference for a physical, in kind, division of the real property that makes a just and fair partition thereof amongst the parties. Id. § 724. The Delaware statutory scheme expressly provides that an order to sell the real property becomes appropriate only after the Court of Chancery determines that a partition of the premises would be detrimental to the interests of the parties entitled. Id. In this case, the parties waived the appointment of commissioners and agreed that the Houston Farm could be equitably divided in kind into three parts of equal value. See id. The Court of Chancery properly granted Peters' petition for partition by ordering the Houston Farm to be divided in kind. Id. § 721. Concurrent ownership of the Houston Farm was eliminated: Peters then owned a life estate in a specified one-third share of the Houston Farm; Thomas, Jr.'s remainder interest was assigned exclusively to that same portion of the Houston Farm; and Thomas, Sr. and Robert each owned separately designated one-third shares of the Houston Farm in fee simple.