The dream of buying your own airplane, sailboat, powerboat or expensive item is something many people share. All to often, however, these properties are either too expensive for a single person to buy, or potential buyers believe they will get more use out of the properties if they come together and purchase them as a team. Owning a portion of an item is often referred to fractional ownership and it is wise to use a fractional ownership agreement to record the details of your arrangement.
Whether you and your friends wish to purchase a boat and agree upon the times when you can use it, or you want your own aircraft and want to spread out the expenses of operation, suitable agreements can be reached to make this possible . If this is something you wish to pursue, you’ll first have to draft the appropriate document.
Here is what you need to know:
A Fractional Ownership Agreement is simply a written statement describing the terms under which your boat or aircraft will be purchased,used and shared. It states clearly and concisely what the responsibilities and priviledges of the various co-owners will be. Whether it’s a time-share type agreement for a unit or a list of times when a group of co-owners have the right to use an aircraft, these agreements are written so each fractional owner will be clear on what their responsibilities and requirements are.
This well drafted legal agreement will allow everyone to enjoy their new purchase. However, any poorly drafted document, or even worse, no agreement at all, may and probably will lead to future problems.
As many as you want or agree to do so. Co-Ownership of a boat or airplane can include multiple parties. It’s quite common for groups of families or small business to agree to share rights to these properties, and apportion the share of costs or expenses appropriately. Of course, there will be practical limitations to any use, but as long as everyone agrees to the terms, the fractional ownership agreements can include as many people as you wish.
The co-owners can decide amongst themselves who is responsible for repairs and maintenance. Whether one person supervises all required maintenance and submits a bill to the rest, or if each co-owner agrees to take turns, however the parties wish to allocate responsibility to any area of the ownership details is up to them.
Most often, Fractional Ownership Agreements will include conditions that cover all contingencies. The method of funding, cost allocation, transfer of ownership interest and terms of use are all needed to make the agreement complete. These documents should be clear and concise, yet expansive enough to include all information required to make it clear to all parties involved what their responsibilities and privilages are. Sometimes a Confidentialty Agreement is necessary.
The choice to enter into a Fractional Ownership Agreement for a boat, aircraft or other expensive or luxury item is a common decision many people make when they wish to purchase these kinds of properties. The most considerable function of these documents is to make it clear to each owner or potential co-owner what they are required to do, and what they cannot do with their share of the property. A well drafted Fractional Ownership Agreement will allow for everyone to enjoy their new purchase, while a poorly drafted, non-clear, non-concise document, or even worse, no agreement at all, will lead to endless problems for everyone involved.
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