- Jurisdiction
- California
My life partner (we were not legally married) died in March. We own land together as "joint tenants" in Siskiyou County, California. He died without making a will. I was under the impression that joint tenancy meant "with right of survivorship" and that his half would become mine upon his death. Recently I received a "Claim for Reassessment Exclusion For Transfer Between Parent and Child" from the Siskiyou Assessor-Recorder's office. It appears, according to this form, that his adopted daughter who lives in Florida is supposed to inherit his 50% of the land. I need to know what my options are regarding this transfer. Do I have to let her inherit and if so, can she force me to sell the land to get cash for her inheritance? I would like to continue living on the land and do not wish to be forced to sell.