Co-Ownership Agreements
Buying property with someone who isn't your spouse? Put the plan in writing before you put your names on the deed.
Book a ConsultationThe Basics
What Is a Co-Ownership Agreement?
A co-ownership agreement is a legally binding contract between two or more people who own, or plan to own, real property together. It answers the questions nobody wants to think about: What happens if one person wants to sell? What if someone stops paying? What if a co-owner passes away?
Think of it as a prenup for your property. Not because you don't trust each other, but because you respect each other enough to plan for the unexpected.
Who This Is For
You Don't Have to Be Married to Need a Plan
What's Covered
Everything Your Handshake Can't Enforce
Your agreement is drafted to match how you actually plan to own and use the property, not pulled from a template.
Ownership Shares & Title Vesting
Who owns what percentage, and how title is held. We coordinate with your lender and title company so everything aligns at closing.
Unequal Contributions
One person putting in the down payment? Another covering renovations? We document every dollar so the equity split reflects reality, not just what's on the deed.
Expenses & Ongoing Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, HOA, repairs. Who pays what, and what happens when someone falls behind.
Exit & Buyout Terms
If someone wants out, the agreement spells out how: right of first refusal, buyout timeline, how the property gets valued, and what triggers a forced sale.
Dispute Resolution
Mediation before litigation. A clear path for resolving disagreements without destroying the relationship or the investment.
Estate Plan Coordination
What happens to someone's share if they pass away? We make sure your co-ownership agreement and your estate plan say the same thing.
The Risk
What Happens Without an Agreement?
Without a written agreement, California's default property laws apply. Those laws don't know your situation, your contributions, or your intentions.
- Any co-owner can file a partition action, forcing a court-ordered sale of the property, even if the other owners aren't ready to sell.
- The person who paid 80% of the down payment gets treated the same as the person who paid 20%, unless there's a written record proving otherwise.
- If one co-owner passes away, their share may go to someone you never planned to own property with.
- Disagreements about repairs, rent, or refinancing have no framework for resolution. It becomes personal, fast.
- Litigation over co-owned property can cost tens of thousands of dollars and take years to resolve.
We Bought a House Together. Three Years Later, We Were Breaking Up.
Composite client story. Names and details changed.
The situation: An unmarried couple, each with kids from a prior marriage. Jen put her divorce settlement into the down payment; Marcus paid more of the monthly costs to even it out. They planned to take title as joint tenants, “because that’s what most people pick.”
The hidden risk: Joint tenancy would have disinherited both sets of kids. With no agreement, a breakup could end in a partition lawsuit.
What we did: Switched them to tenants in common and wrote a co-ownership agreement covering contributions, carrying costs, and the buyout math.
The result: When they split, Jen bought Marcus out by running the numbers instead of suing. Undisclosed judgments against Marcus surfaced at closing, and the payoff came out of his share. Jen’s down payment was untouched.
These case studies do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.
Already Own Together?
It's Not Too Late to Put It in Writing
Most people don't think about a co-ownership agreement until something goes wrong. If you already own property with someone and don't have a written agreement, now is the time to fix that.
Whether you bought the property last month or ten years ago, we can draft an agreement that reflects your current arrangement and protects both of you going forward.
The Process
How It Works
We keep it simple. Four steps from first call to signed agreement.
Discovery Call
A free consultation to understand your situation, your property, and what you need the agreement to cover.
Information Gathering
We send you a questionnaire covering ownership splits, financial contributions, decision-making, and exit scenarios.
Drafting & Review
We draft the agreement and walk you through every provision. You and your co-owners review, ask questions, and request changes.
Signing & Recording
Once everyone is aligned, we handle execution and, if needed, coordinate with your title company or lender.
Transparent Pricing
Flat Fee. No Surprises.
Every co-ownership agreement is a flat fee engagement. You'll know the cost before we start, and it won't change.
Your Home, Your Way
Legal Protection for Every Kind of Family
Not every family looks the same, and not every homeownership arrangement fits neatly into a legal template. We work with clients across California who are building homes and lives on their own terms.
LGBTQ+ Homeowners Welcome
Whether you're buying with a partner, a friend, or chosen family, your agreement should reflect your actual relationship and your real intentions. We draft agreements that protect what matters to you, without assumptions about how your household works.
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