NJ A5448

Establishes the "Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act" to create alternative procedures for court partition actions involving real property held by multiple owners when at least one owner acquired title from a relative

Defines "heirs property" as tenancy-in-common property where 20% or more of interests are held by relatives or individuals who acquired title from relatives, and no existing agreement governs partition

Requires court appointment of a special master and licensed real estate appraiser to determine fair market value before any partition, with cotenants given opportunity to buy out interests of those requesting sale

Mandates partition in kind (physical division of property) unless the court finds it would cause "great prejudice" to cotenants as a group, considering factors such as sentimental attachment, ancestral value, and practical divisibility

Orders open-market sales through licensed brokers when partition by sale is required, with property offered at no less than appraised value; takes effect 30 days after enactment for newly filed partition actions