The Short Answer

Under Florida law, a co-heir generally cannot permanently “block” the other heirs from resolving co-ownership of inherited property. If heirs are stuck owning property together and one sibling refuses access or refuses to cooperate with a sale, the usual remedy is a court-supervised partition (which can result in a sale and division of proceeds).

What Florida Law Says

Inherited real estate commonly ends up owned by multiple heirs as tenants in common (each heir owns an undivided share). When co-owners cannot agree on use, access, or whether to sell, Florida law provides a way to ask a court to divide the property or order a sale so the owners can receive their shares rather than remain “stuck” together.

The Statute

The primary law governing this issue (when the property is still in an open probate estate and beneficiaries are entitled to undivided interests) is Fla. Stat. § 733.814.

This statute allows the personal representative or any beneficiary to petition the probate court (before the estate closes) to partition the property like a civil partition case, and it authorizes the court to direct a sale if the property cannot be partitioned without prejudice or cannot be allotted equitably and conveniently.

Separately, Florida’s general partition statute also recognizes that a partition case may be filed by a co-owner against other co-owners. See Fla. Stat. § 64.031.

If the property qualifies as “heirs property” under Florida’s Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, additional protections and procedures may apply, including a potential buyout process. See, for example, Fla. Stat. § 64.207.

For more background reading, you may find these helpful: How does a partition action work in Florida for co-owned or inherited property? and Can I force the sale of a co-owned house with my sibling in Florida if we can’t agree?.

Why You Should Speak with an Attorney

While the statutes provide the general solution (partition and, if necessary, a court-ordered sale), applying them to a family inheritance dispute is rarely simple. Legal outcomes often depend on:

• Strict Deadlines: If you need to use probate partition, Fla. Stat. § 733.814 requires the petition be filed before the estate is closed, which can be a critical timing issue.
• Burden of Proof: Disputes about “blocking access” can turn into fact-heavy fights about possession, alleged exclusion, expenses paid, property condition, and what outcome is equitable.
• Exceptions and Strategic Choices: Whether the property is still in probate versus already deeded to heirs, whether it qualifies as “heirs property,” and whether a buyout is realistic can change the best legal path and the likely result.

Trying to handle this alone can lead to avoidable delays, missed probate opportunities, or a result that is financially worse than necessary. A Florida probate attorney can evaluate the title status, the probate posture, and the best remedy to protect your share.

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Disclaimer: This article provides general information under Florida law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed attorney.