§ 1651. Proceedings for voluntary partition of infant's, incompetent's or conservatee's real property. 1. Where an infant, mentally retarded person, mentally ill person, alcohol abuser or conservatee holds real property, in joint tenancy or in common, the general guardian of the infant, or the committee of the mentally retarded person, mentally ill person, or alcohol abuser, or conservator of the conservatee, may apply to the supreme court or to the county court of the county wherein the real property is situated, for authority to agree to a partition of the real property. Where such application affects the interests of an incompetent person or a conservatee who has been committed to a state institution, and is an inmate thereof, notice of such application must be given to the superintendent, acting superintendent or state officer having special jurisdiction over the institution where the incompetent person or conservatee is confined. Irrespective of the location of any real property held by an infant in joint tenancy or in common, his general guardian may make such application to the surrogate's court which appointed such guardian. A certified copy of the decree entered in the surrogate's court on such application must be recorded in the office of the clerk of each county in which is situated property affected by such decree.

2. Such an application must be by a petition, which must describe the real property proposed to be partitioned; must state the rights and interests of the several owners thereof; must specify the particular partition proposed to be made; and must be verified by affidavit. The court may order notice of the application to be given to such persons as it thinks proper.

3. If, after due inquiry into the merits of the application, by a reference or otherwise, the court is of the opinion that the interests of the infant, or of the mentally retarded person, mentally ill person, alcohol abuser or conservatee, will be promoted by the partition proposed, it may make an order authorizing the petitioner to agree to the partition proposed, and in the name of the infant, or of the mentally retarded person, mentally ill person, alcohol abuser or conservatee, to execute releases of his right and interest in and to that part of the property which falls to the shares of the other joint-tenants or tenants in common. The court may, in its discretion, for the furtherance of the interests of said infant, mentally retarded person, mentally ill person, alcohol abuser or conservatee, direct partition to be so made as to set off to him or them his or their share in common with any of the other owners, provided the consent in writing thereto of such owners shall be first obtained.

4. Releases so executed have the same validity and effect, as if they were executed by the person in whose behalf they are executed, and as if the infant was of full age, or the mentally retarded person, mentally ill person, or alcohol abuser was of sound mind, and competent to manage his affairs, or the conservatee was competent to manage his affairs.