Posted by John Merchant on January 08, 2010 at 12:58:29:
The reality is that while you or I can legally sell anything we own (unless we’re under legal/contractual constraints), there are very few interested buyers in a partial interest in anything.
Suggestion: Casually mention to your father-in-law that you are selling your 1/2 interest so he may be getting a new partner quite soon…and see what happens.
FIL might suddenly become very interested in buying out your 1/2 or selling his to you for a bargain basement price and your problem will have been solved.
I’ve been involved in several such “partial” sales, most always to one of the other partial owners.