Coolidge v. Coolidge
Vermont Supreme Court
287 A.2d 566 (1971)
Relevant factsFree
Melvin, Carrie (plaintiff), and their son (defendant) held a farm as joint tenants, understanding that the ultimate survivor would own it outright; after Melvin died, Carrie moved away and petitioned for statutory partition, and the son argued the parties' shared understanding about eventual survivorship should bar partition. The trial court granted Carrie's partition petition, and the son appealed.
IssueFree
Whether, absent an agreement to the contrary among joint owners, a joint owner of property has the right to demand partition of the property.