12-3402. Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Ascendant" means an individual who precedes another individual in lineage, in the direct line of ascent from the other individual.

2. "Collateral" means an individual who is related to another individual under the law of intestate succession of this state but who is not the other individual's ascendant or descendant.

3. "Descendant" means an individual who follows another individual in lineage, in the direct line of descent from the other individual.

4. "Determination of value" means a court order that determines the fair market value of heirs property or that adopts the valuation of the property agreed to by all cotenants.

5. "Heirs property" means real property that is held in tenancy in common and that satisfies all of the following requirements as of the filing of a partition action:

(a) There is no agreement in a record that binds all the cotenants and that governs the partition of the property.

(b) One or more of the cotenants acquired title from a relative, whether living or deceased.

(c) Any of the following applies:

(i) Twenty percent or more of the interests are held by cotenants who are relatives.

(ii) Twenty percent or more of the interests are held by an individual who acquired title from a relative, whether living or deceased.

(iii) Twenty percent or more of the cotenants are relatives.

6. "Partition by sale" means a court-ordered sale of the entire heirs property, whether by open-market sale, sealed bids or auction.

7. "Partition in kind" means the division of heirs property into physically distinct and separately titled parcels.

8. "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

9. "Relative" means an ascendant, descendant or collateral or an individual who is otherwise related to another individual by blood, marriage or adoption or by any other law of this state.