A partition action enables you to force the sale of property when coowners are refusing to sell. When two or more people own the same property, one of the owners CAN force a sale of the jointly owned property via a partition action or lawsuit.A partition lawsuit will force the court to either divide the property between the owners, or sell the property and divide the sale proceeds between the owners. A partition lawsuit can be pretty difficult to stop, though it is not impossible with help from an experienced property dispute lawyer. Partition is the legal term referring to division of real property interests among co-owners (tenants in common). In Michigan, joint owners of property may file a lawsuit to partition the property. This article will explore the basics of partition lawsuits in Michigan, highlighting key statutes and court rules to help you better understand the process. In most cases, a partition action cannot be stopped. However, there may be legal defenses that can prevent or slow a forced sale.