PA SB890

Adds Chapter 21A to Title 20 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, adopting the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act to govern partition actions involving property inherited by family members as tenants in common

Establishes a right of first refusal requiring cotenants who wish to sell their share to outside buyers to first offer the shares to inheriting cotenants or their relatives at the same price, with priority given to those using the property as a primary residence

Requires mandatory settlement conferences within 60 days of heirs property determination and good faith negotiations before proceeding with partition actions; courts must dismiss cases where plaintiffs fail to negotiate in good faith

Creates a cotenant buyout process allowing non-selling cotenants 45 days to elect to purchase the interests of cotenants requesting partition by sale at fair market value, with payment deadlines that can be extended to allow time to obtain financing

Mandates partition in kind (physical division) unless the court finds it would result in "great prejudice" to cotenants as a group, considering factors including sentimental attachment, ancestral value, duration of family ownership, and current lawful use of the property