My family has 5 brothers, and 4 of us want to divide our ancestral home. The brother living there is unwilling to split the property, even though he’s been offered the first pick. We’re eager to get this done quickly. Can you explain the legal process and timelines for dividing property in such a situation?

Under Indian law, you can file a partition suit in the civil court to divide the ancestral property. The court will appoint a commissioner to assess the property and divide it fairly among the brothers. The timeline depends on the complexity of the case and the court’s workload, but it can take several months to a few years.