Beucke

I. Background Pitonyak and Beucke are former romantic partners who lived together for several years and have children together. When Pitonyak moved in with Beuke, record title to the property they occupied was vested in Beucke. But, over time, it came to be vested in Beucke and Pitonyak, first as joint tenants and then as tenants in common. How title to the property was held at the inception of this lawsuit is characterized in one way in the pleadings, and in an altogether different— and contrary—way in the trial court’s findings after trial. And therein lies the crux of this appeal. A. Characterization of Title in the Parties’ Pleadings According to the complaint, Beucke acquired the property several years before Pitonyak moved in. Then several years later, at a time when the two of them were still living there, she refinanced it. In connection with the refinance transaction, she executed a quitclaim deed that vested title in herself and Pitonyak as joint tenants. Then, months later, after they had ended their romantic relationship, Beucke “severed the joint tenancy by executing and recording a ‘Notice of Severance of Joint Tenancy.’ ” The notice of severance said “[t]he…