Opinion ID: 1948908
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the partition

Text: Without proof the chancellor found that the land should be sold at public outcry rather than partited in kind. In construing Miss. Code Ann. § 11-21-11 this Court has consistently held that a sale of the land cannot be decreed unless it has been shown that an equal partition in kind cannot be made. A partition in kind is always preferred and will be jealously guarded by this court. No proof on this issue was had by the chancellor before rendition of his decree. From this record we are not convinced a partition in kind cannot be fairly made under the statute. See: Miss. Code Ann. § 11-21-11  Miss. Code Ann. § 11-21-17. In Bailey v. Vaughn, 375 So.2d 1054 (Miss. 1979), we set forth criteria in determining whether land should be partited in kind or a sale ordered in the first instance. We therefore remand for hearing on whether the land may be fairly partited in kind. AFFIRMED AS TO OWNERSHIP; REVERSED AND REMANDED AS TO PARTITION. PATTERSON, C.J., WALKER and ROY NOBLE LEE, P.JJ., and DAN M. LEE, PRATHER, ROBERTSON, SULLIVAN and ANDERSON, JJ., concur.