Larson

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Siblings Nancy L. Roberts, Diane M. Larson and Lawrence K. Larson have jointly owned multiple properties in Santa Clara County with their mother, Elizabeth J. Larson, over the past three decades.3 The parties have transferred the properties, or the divided interests therein, numerous times in an attempt to minimize estate and property taxes and for other reasons. The complaint and cross-complaint at issue in this appeal stem from disputes regarding two particular jointly owned properties in Cupertino (Aster Lane property) and Los Gatos (Hershner property). A. Previous litigation and settlement The three siblings initially held title to the Aster Lane property in equal one-third interests. Their legal disputes began in 2016, when Diane and Lawrence filed a partition action against Roberts seeking to force a sale of the property. Diane and Lawrence wanted to sell the property but Roberts, who was living there at the time, did not.

3 Because Diane, Lawrence and Elizabeth share the same surname, we refer to them in this opinion by their first names. In this appeal, Roberts is the appellant and Diane and Lawrence are the respondents; Elizabeth is…