6 Ways to Easily Navigate and Resolve Property Ownership Disputes
If you’ve found yourself in the middle of a property ownership dispute, you likely know how much frustration and stress this situation can cause. Disagreements aren’t uncommon, arguments can quickly arise, and relationships can easily be destroyed over a piece of property.
But regardless of the complexity of your case, the truth is that most people still want to resolve disputes quickly and find a solution that equally satisfies all parties involved. If that is the case with you as well, here are some efficient ways you can navigate and resolve your property ownership dispute more easily:
Try selling the property
Before attempting to find a good lawyer quickly, it’s recommended to try resolving the dispute yourself. If all parties agree to sell the property, for instance, this can be quite a simple and effective solution. You can put the property in question up for sale, divide the legal and realtor fees among involved parties, and then split the profits equally or equitably. This is a quick and easy option that can help to preserve relationships and reduce unnecessary stress, but it can only work if all parties involved in the property dispute are on good terms and on the same page regarding the sale.
Buy the co-owner out
Another simple solution to the property ownership dispute would be for one co-owner of the property to buy the other one out, whether that means your co-owners will purchase your share of the property or you will purchase theirs. The dispute will end when one person manages to take sole ownership of the property, thus being the easiest and most straightforward option. However, this solution may not always be quite as simple either. If circumstances are particularly unique or relationships between parties are bad, coming to an amicable agreement can be extremely difficult.
Consider mediation
In property ownership disputes, working with a mediator is an increasingly popular solution. This can be an unbiased family member, a property manager with knowledge regarding the real estate in question, a legal professional specializing in mediation, or any other impartial party. In any case, a mediator will be able to facilitate communication between involved parties, ensure everyone’s wishes are heard and a compromise is reached, and even find a solution to the dispute out of court. Mediators can also save money and time, and even help to preserve important relationships in more delicate cases.
Focus on negotiations
In most European countries, on the other hand, the main focus is often on negotiations. As this process happens before any legal proceedings begin, this is likely due to the commonly high legal fees and long resolution times in this region. However, this tactic is still quite wise regardless of your location. If you hire a good lawyer, they can negotiate on your behalf and increase the chances of reaching a settlement out of court. Even if you don’t manage to resolve the dispute, officially clarifying your position in advance could be of great help for the proceedings.
Consult a good lawyer
Whether you can’t seem to agree with other parties or you simply want to protect yourself throughout the proceedings, consulting a lawyer is always advised. This is especially true in countries like Australia, where disputes simply can’t be resolved without an expert. Here, the best course of action would be to hire an experienced property lawyer from Sydney to handle the dispute. Specializing in this field of law, such a professional will have enough knowledge, skill, and expertise to successfully resolve any property ownership dispute. It might be wise to find a similar expert in your area as well, no matter the circumstances.
Take it to court
When you and the other parties involved in the property dispute simply can’t come to an agreement, the only solution in this instance would be to take the case to court. This can be the Local Court presiding over the area where the property is located, Family Court in case the dispute is a result of divorce, death, and other family-related circumstances, or even the Supreme Court for more complicated cases. Your lawyer will advise you on the best course of action in this instance, but keep in mind that pursuing this route is often a costly, time-consuming, and stressful decision.
In conclusion
Resolving a property ownership dispute can come with plenty of stress, anxiety, and worry, especially when family is involved. Follow the steps above to navigate through this process more easily and ensure a positive outcome from your property ownership dispute.