Chapter 5307 | Partition

Section 5307.01 | Persons compelled to partition.

• Effective: April 4, 1985
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 201 - 115th General Assembly

Tenants in common, survivorship tenants, and coparceners, of any estate in lands, tenements, or hereditaments within the state, may be compelled to make or suffer partition thereof as provided in sections 5307.01 to 5307.25 of the Revised Code.

Section 5307.02 | Place of partition proceedings.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When the estate is situated in one county, the proceedings for partition shall be had in that county. When the estate is situated in two or more counties, such proceedings may be had in any county in which a part of such estate is situated.

Section 5307.03 | Filing of petition - contents.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A person entitled to partition of an estate may file his petition therefor in the court of common pleas, setting forth the nature of his title, a pertinent description of the lands, tenements, or hereditaments of which partition is demanded, and naming each tenant in common, coparcener, or other person interested therein, as defendant. When the title to such estate came to such person by descent or devise upon the death of an inhabitant of this state, a partition thereof shall not be ordered by the court within one year from the date of the death of such decedent, unless the petition sets forth and it is proved that all claims against the estate of such decedent have been paid, or secured to be paid, or that the personal property of the deceased is sufficient to pay them.

Section 5307.04 | Order of partition.

• Effective: October 14, 1997
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 88 - 122nd General Assembly

If the court of common pleas finds that the plaintiff in an action for partition has a legal right to any part of the estate, it shall order partition of the estate in favor of the plaintiff or all interested parties, appoint one suitable disinterested person to be the commissioner to make the partition, and issue a writ of partition. The court on its own motion may, and upon motion of a party or any other interested person shall, appoint one or two additional suitable persons to be commissioners. If the estate to be partitioned extends beyond the county in which the action is commenced, the court may appoint a separate commissioner or commissioners, not to exceed three, to make the partition of that portion of the estate located in the other county.

Section 5307.041 | Share of survivorship tenants.

• Effective: April 4, 1985
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 201 - 115th General Assembly

If partition is granted among survivorship tenants, the court shall determine the share to which each is entitled as if the tenants were tenants in common.

Section 5307.05 | Writ of partition.

• Effective: October 14, 1997
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 88 - 122nd General Assembly

A writ of partition issued under section 5307.04 of the Revised Code may be directed to the sheriff of any of the counties in which any part of the estate lies and shall command the sheriff that, by the oaths of the commissioner or commissioners, the sheriff shall cause to be set off and divided to the plaintiff or each interested party, whatever part and proportion of the estate as the court of common pleas orders.

The oaths of the commissioner or commissioners may be administered by the sheriff.

Section 5307.06 | Duty of commissioners in making partition.

• Effective: October 14, 1997
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 88 - 122nd General Assembly

In making a partition, the commissioner or commissioners shall view and examine the estate and, on their oaths and having due regard to the improvements, situation, and quality of the different parts, set it apart in lots that will be most advantageous and equitable.

If the commissioner or commissioners set the estate apart in lots, it shall be surveyed and platted in compliance with sections 711.001 to 711.15 of the Revised Code and with rules adopted pursuant to those sections.

Section 5307.07 | Partition of multiple tracts.

• Effective: October 14, 1997
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 88 - 122nd General Assembly

When partition of more than one tract is demanded, the commissioner or commissioners shall set off to each plaintiff or interested party the plaintiff's or interested party's proper proportion in each of the several tracts unless the tracts are owned by the same proprietors in like proportion in each tract, in which case the share of any proprietor, in all the tracts, may be set off to the proprietor according to the best discretion of the commissioner or commissioners. If the commissioner or commissioners divide any tract, it shall be surveyed and platted in compliance with sections 711.001 to 711.15 of the Revised Code and with rules adopted pursuant to those sections.

Section 5307.08 | Amicable partition.

• Effective: October 14, 1997
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 88 - 122nd General Assembly

Before a writ of partition is issued under section 5307.04 of the Revised Code, the person of whom partition is demanded may appear in the court of common pleas in person or by attorney and consent to a partition of the estate agreeable to the prayer and facts set forth in the petition, which amicable partition, when made and recorded, shall be valid and binding between the parties to the partition. In cases in which a requested partition is consented to under this section and in all cases in which the lands are divided among the parties by the commissioner or commissioners, the court shall order the sheriff to execute and deliver a deed to each person entitled to a deed for the portion set off and assigned to the person. Land divided pursuant to this section shall be surveyed and platted in compliance with sections 711.001 to 711.15 of the Revised Code and with rules adopted pursuant to those sections.

Section 5307.09 | Proceedings where estate cannot be divided without loss of value.

• Effective: October 14, 1997
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 88 - 122nd General Assembly

When the commissioner or commissioners are of opinion that the estate cannot be divided according to the demand of the writ of partition without manifest injury to its value, the commissioner or commissioners shall return that fact to the court of common pleas with a just valuation of the estate. If the court approves the return and if one or more of the parties elects to take the estate at the appraised value, it shall be adjudged to them, upon their paying to the other parties their proportion of its appraised value, according to their respective rights, or securing it as provided in section 5307.10 of the Revised Code.

Section 5307.10 | Terms of payment when estate taken by party - execution of conveyance.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If one or more of the parties in the action for partition elects to take the estate at the appraised value, unless on good cause shown by special order the court of common pleas directs the entire payment to be made in cash, or all the parties in interest agree thereon, the terms of payment shall be one third cash, one third in one year, and one third in two years, with interest, the deferred payments to be secured to the satisfaction of the court. On payment being made in full, or in part, with sufficient security for the remainder, as provided in this section, according to the order of the court the sheriff shall make and execute a conveyance to the parties electing to take it.

Section 5307.11 | Sale of estate when no election made.

• Effective: September 13, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 292 - 128th General Assembly

If no party elects to take the estate, at the insistence of a party, the court of common pleas may order a sale of the estate at public auction by one of the following:

(A) The sheriff who executed the writ of partition or the sheriff's successor in office;

(B) An auctioneer who is licensed under Chapter 4707. of the Revised Code and who is qualified under section 4707.021 of the Revised Code to conduct an auction of real property.

Section 5307.12 | Conduct of sale - terms.

• Effective: September 13, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 292 - 128th General Assembly

(A) A sale of an estate under section 5307.11 of the Revised Code shall be made as follows:

(1) If the sale is made by a sheriff, the sale shall be made at the door of the courthouse, unless for good cause the court of common pleas directs it to be made on the premises. The sale shall be conducted as upon execution, except that it is unnecessary to appraise the estate.

(2) If the sale is made by a licensed auctioneer, the sale shall be made pursuant to Chapter 4707. of the Revised Code.

(B) No property shall be sold for less than two thirds of the value returned by the commissioner or commissioners.

Section 5307.13 | Confirmation of sale and execution of conveyance.

• Effective: September 13, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 292 - 128th General Assembly

On the return of the proceedings to sell the estate, the court of common pleas shall examine them. If a sale has been made, and the court approves it, the sheriff shall execute and deliver a deed to the purchaser on receiving payment of the consideration money, or taking sufficient security for that payment, to the satisfaction of the court.

Section 5307.14 | Distribution of proceeds; auctioneer's compensation and reimbursement for expenses; sheriff's liability.

• Effective: September 13, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 292 - 128th General Assembly

(A) Subject to division (B) of this section, the money or securities arising from a sale of, or an election to take an estate, shall be distributed and paid, by order of the court of common pleas, to the parties entitled to the money or securities, in lieu of their respective parts and proportions of the estate, according to their rights in the estate.

(B) When a sale is made by a licensed auctioneer, the auctioneer shall receive compensation and reimbursement for expenses as described in section 2335.021 of the Revised Code, that the court shall apportion as costs to the parties as the court finds reasonable and proper.

(C) All receipts of money or securities by the sheriff arising from a sale or election are in the sheriff's official capacity, and the sureties on the sheriff's official bond are liable for any misapplication of those receipts.

Section 5307.15 | Proceedings when estate has been once offered and not sold.

• Effective: October 14, 1997
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 88 - 122nd General Assembly

When the estate has been offered once and not sold, alias writs for its sale may issue as often as need be. The court of common pleas may order a revaluation by up to three suitable disinterested persons and direct a sale of the estate at not less than two thirds of the revaluation, or, if deemed for the interest of the parties, the court may order a sale without a revaluation, at not less than a sum it fixes.

Section 5307.16 | Execution and delivery by sheriff or officer performing duties of sheriff where property not conveyed.

• Effective: September 13, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 292 - 128th General Assembly

If an officer or auctioneer has not conveyed land sold or elected to be taken in a proceeding for partition, the court of common pleas on being first satisfied that such sale or election was regularly made, and that the purchase money has been fully paid or secured, on motion, may order the sheriff of the county, or officer performing the duties of sheriff, to execute and deliver to the purchaser, or person electing to take the property, a deed for the property.

Section 5307.17 | Dower assigned to widow - exceptions.

• Effective: October 14, 1997
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 88 - 122nd General Assembly

(A) When a widow is entitled to dower in an estate of which partition is sought, dower must be assigned her in the estate, except in the following cases:

(1) When an assignment of dower already has been made;

(2) When, by answer, she has elected to be endowed out of the proceeds of a sale of the estate, and the commissioner or commissioners do not make partition but return a valuation of it;

(3) When the right of dower extends only to an undivided interest in the estate.

(B) In cases in which the right of dower extends only to an undivided interest in the estate, and in cases in which an undivided interest is subject to a life estate, and the tenant for life has not, by answer, elected to receive the value of the tenant for life's estate out of the proceeds of a sale of such interest, if an appraisement of the estate is to be returned, the commissioner or commissioners may assign the dower or set off the life estate, or, if the commissioner or commissioners find it for the interest of the parties to do so, the commissioner or commissioners may appraise the whole interest, and the widow and the tenant for life shall receive the value of their interests out of the proceeds of a sale of it.

Section 5307.18 | Commissioners to set off dower.

• Effective: October 14, 1997
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 88 - 122nd General Assembly

The commissioner or commissioners shall set off to a widow her dower in the estate under section 5307.17 of the Revised Code. In the performance of that duty, the commissioner or commissioners shall be governed by, and the proceedings shall conform to, sections 5305.01 to 5305.22 of the Revised Code.

Section 5307.19 | Power of guardian to act for ward in partition.

• Effective: October 12, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 158 - 131st General Assembly

As used in this section and section 5307.20 of the Revised Code, "incompetent person" means a person who is so mentally impaired, as a result of a mental or physical illness or disability, as a result of an intellectual disability, or as a result of chronic substance abuse, that the person is incapable of taking proper care of the person's self or property or fails to provide for the person's family or other persons for whom the person is charged by law to provide.

The guardian of a minor or incompetent person, on behalf of the guardian's ward, may perform any act, matter, or thing respecting the partition of an estate which such ward could do under sections 5307.01 to 5307.25 of the Revised Code, if the ward were of age and of sound mind. On behalf of such ward, the guardian may elect to take the estate, when it cannot be divided without injury, and make payments therefor on the ward's behalf.

Section 5307.20 | Powers of foreign guardian.

• Effective: August 7, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 53 - 127th General Assembly

A person appointed according to the laws of any other state or country to take charge of the estate of an incompetent person not a resident of this state, upon being authorized in this state to take charge of such estate situated therein, may act in the partition of the estate the same as the guardian of an incompetent person is authorized to do by section 5307.19 of the Revised Code.

Section 5307.21 | Actions by one coparcener against another.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

One tenant in common, or coparcener, may recover from another tenant in common, or coparcener his share of rents and profits received by such tenant in common or coparcener from the estate, according to the justice and equity of the case. One coparcener may maintain an action of waste against another coparcener. No coparcener shall have any privileges over another coparcener, in any election, division, partition, or matter to be made or done, concerning lands which have descended.

Section 5307.22 | Partition of property belonging to religious corporations.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When two or more religious denominations, or other societies, or associations, have united in a corporation, and as such corporation acquire title to real estate in this state, and they subsequently agree to separate and form two or more corporations under the laws of this state, either corporation, after such separate organization, may file its petition for partition under section 5307.03 of the Revised Code of such property so acquired and held.

Section 5307.23 | Partition of property belonging to religious societies.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When two or more religious societies or congregations, by gift or purchase have acquired land upon which to erect a house of public worship, and other buildings for church or school purposes, and for a cemetery, in common, and either of such societies or congregations desires to abandon the joint use of such house of worship, or other erections, it may commence an action for the partition of the use of such common property, except the cemetery, which may continue to be used in common.

Section 5307.24 | Effect of partition of religious property.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If the court of common pleas finds that partition, in cases mentioned in section 5307.23 of the Revised Code, can be so made as to occasion no confusion or inconvenience to either party in the separate use of the common property, it may order the partition thereof. The judgment shall specify for what purpose partition of the use is made, and how and for what purpose the use of the premises allotted to each party are to be occupied. In no case shall such property, or any part thereof be occupied for any other purpose than the erection of a house of worship, and other erections connected therewith.

Section 5307.25 | Costs and expenses to be equitably taxed.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Having regard to the interest of the parties, the benefit each may derive from a partition, and according to equity, the court of common pleas shall tax the costs and expenses which accrue in the action, including reasonable counsel fees, which must be paid to plaintiff's counsel unless the court awards some part thereof to other counsel for services in the case for the common benefit of all the parties; and execution may issue therefor as in other cases.