Property Dispute Attorney

Rokita Law P.C. represents property owners, co-owners, investors, and businesses in real estate and property disputes throughout Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, and Orange County. We handle disputes involving property ownership, boundaries, easements, co-ownership, partition actions, and title issues. Attorney Amanda Rokita has represented clients in complex property disputes throughout Southern California and has practiced in California since 2017. 

What Is a Property Dispute?

A property dispute is any disagreement over rights in real estate: who owns it, where its boundaries fall, who may use it, and what happens when co-owners cannot agree. These disputes cover a wide range, from a fence built over a property line to a deadlock between siblings who inherited a building together. What they share is a conflict that affects the value and use of real property, and that often cannot be resolved without legal action.

Property disputes are different from real estate transactions, which involve buying and selling, and from real estate fraud, which involves deception. A property dispute is about competing rights in land that already exists, and resolving it usually means clarifying those rights through negotiation, or through the courts when that fails.

Property Disputes We Handle

We represent clients on both sides of property disputes in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, whether you are asserting a right or defending one. Our work includes:

• Partition actions to divide or force the sale of co-owned property
• Co-ownership and inherited property deadlocks
• Boundary line disputes and encroachments
• Easement, access, and right-of-way disputes
• Adverse possession claims and defenses
• Title disputes and competing ownership claims
• Quiet title actions to clear ownership
• Neighbor disputes over trees, fences, and shared structures
• Mechanics liens and disputes with contractors on a property
• HOA and common-interest development disputes

Partition: The Most Common Co-Ownership Dispute

When two or more people own property together and cannot agree on what to do with it, a partition action is often the answer. It is a lawsuit that asks the court to either divide the property or, more commonly, order it sold and the proceeds split. Partition is a powerful remedy because a co-owner generally has the right to force one, even if the others object.

California updated its partition law with the Partition of Real Property Act, which took effect in 2023 and added protections that can let a co-owner buy out the others before any forced sale. These cases turn on the ownership shares, the contributions each owner made, and the procedures the statute requires. We handle partition actions from the first demand through sale or buyout, and you can read more on our partition action page.

Why Property Disputes Need a Litigator

Property disputes reward preparation. The outcome usually depends on documents most people never think about until there is a fight: the deed, the survey, the chain of title, the tax records, and the history of how the property was used. We build that record, identify the strongest theory, and push for a resolution that protects your interest. Many property disputes settle once the other side sees a case built to be tried, and when settlement is not possible, we are ready for court.

Serving Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and nearby!

Property in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills carries high value, and the disputes that arise here, over a shared driveway, a disputed boundary, or an inherited building, can involve significant money and strong emotions. We represent homeowners, co-owners, and investors across Los Angeles County, and our Newport Beach office brings the same representation to clients throughout Orange County. Wherever the property sits in Southern California, we help you protect your rights in it.

Talk to a Property Dispute Attorney

If a co-owner, a neighbor, or a competing claim is threatening your property rights, we can help. Call Rokita Law P.C. at (888) 765-4825 or schedule a consultation to discuss your situation. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Property Disputes in Los Angeles and Orange County: What to Know

In California, a property dispute is generally filed in the superior court of the county where the land sits. Property in Beverly Hills or the city of Los Angeles falls within Los Angeles County and its Superior Court system, including the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. Property in Newport Beach falls within Orange County, where civil matters are handled by the Orange County Superior Court, with the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana hearing many of them.

Partition actions in California are governed by the Code of Civil Procedure beginning at section 872.210, along with the newer Partition of Real Property Act. Boundary and easement disputes often turn on the recorded deed and survey, and the resolution, whether a judgment, a lien release, or a corrected boundary, is recorded with the county recorder so it appears in the public record. For Los Angeles and Beverly Hills property, that is the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk; for Newport Beach and Orange County property, the Orange County Clerk-Recorder.

When a dispute affects title, a party can record a lis pendens, a notice of pending action, so buyers and lenders know the property is tied up in litigation. Used correctly, it protects your position while the case is pending.

Helpful resources

• California Code of Civil Procedure section 872.210 (partition) (the official statute authorizing partition actions).
• California Courts, civil lawsuit basics (official self-help guide to how civil cases work).

Related pages from Rokita Law

• Real Estate Attorney
• Partition Actions for Co-Owners
• What Is Adverse Possession in California?
• California Partition of Real Property Act
• How to Force the Sale of Co-Owned Property
• Mechanics Liens in California
• Civil Litigation Attorney
• Real Estate Attorney in Beverly Hills
• Real Estate Lawyer in Newport Beach

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a property dispute?

A property dispute is a conflict over the ownership, boundaries, or use of real estate. It includes co-ownership deadlocks, boundary and easement disputes, adverse possession, title conflicts, and partition. We handle these disputes for clients across Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Orange County.

What is a partition action?

A partition action is a lawsuit that lets a co-owner of California real estate force the division or sale of jointly owned property when the owners cannot agree. A co-owner generally has the right to bring one, which makes it a powerful remedy for deadlocked owners and inherited property.

Can I force the sale of a property I own with someone else?

Often, yes. If you co-own property and cannot reach agreement, a partition action can ask the court to order the property sold and the proceeds divided. California’s Partition of Real Property Act may also allow the other owners to buy out your share instead.

How are boundary disputes resolved in California?

Boundary disputes turn on the recorded deed, the legal description, and often a professional survey. They can be resolved by agreement, by a corrected and recorded boundary, or by a court judgment when the parties cannot agree. We build the record and pursue the outcome that protects your property.

What is an easement dispute?

An easement dispute involves the right to use part of someone else’s property, such as a shared driveway or an access road. These disputes ask whether an easement exists, how far it extends, and who may use it. They are common between neighbors and adjoining owners.

What is adverse possession?

Adverse possession is a legal claim that lets someone gain title to property by occupying it under certain conditions. In California, that generally requires five years of possession and payment of the property taxes during that time. We handle both adverse possession claims and defenses against them.

How long does a property dispute take in California?

It depends on the type of dispute and whether it settles. Some matters resolve in a few months, while contested cases such as partition or boundary disputes can take longer. We give you a realistic timeline once we review the facts and the records.

What is the difference between a property dispute and a quiet title action?

A property dispute is the broader conflict over rights in real estate. A quiet title action is a specific lawsuit used to establish ownership and clear competing claims from the title. Many property disputes are resolved using a quiet title or partition action.

How much does it cost to resolve a property dispute?

Cost depends on the complexity of the dispute and whether it goes to trial. Some matters are handled hourly, and others may allow different arrangements. We discuss the likely cost and fee structure with you up front before any work begins.

Where does Rokita Law handle property disputes?

We represent property owners and co-owners from our offices in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach, serving Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Southern California.

Should I talk to a lawyer before confronting a neighbor or co-owner?

Usually, yes. Involving an attorney early helps you understand your rights, preserve the records that matter, and avoid steps that could weaken your position. A short consultation can often clarify your options before a dispute escalates.