'Vanderpump Rules' star Ariana Madix files lawsuit against Tom Sandoval over LA residence ownership, requests 'partition by sale'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ariana Madix's dispute with her ex-boyfriend Tom Sandoval has escalated as she filed a lawsuit against him.

The legal action revolves around the Los Angeles residence that the former couple co-owns as Madix is seeking a "partition by sale" through the courts.

Ariana Madix launches legal battle against Tom Sandoval over shared Los Angeles home

TMZ, which obtained the court documents, reported that Ariana Madix has officially sued Tom Sandoval in the Los Angeles Superior Court, requesting a forced sale of the home they jointly purchased in 2019.

Desiring a clean break, Madix is pushing for the judge to mandate the sale of the property and the equitable distribution of the proceeds. Notably, the court documents specify that Madix is opposed to a "division in kind," which would allow either party to sell the property to a third party independently.

Madix's legal move underscores her determination to sever ties with Sandoval, signaling a desire for both parties to move forward with their lives independently. Despite their highly publicized breakup following Sandoval's affair with 'Vanderpump Rules' co-star Rachel Leviss, Madix and Sandoval continued co-owning and cohabiting in the same house.

The couple's unusual living situation garnered attention, especially after Sandoval's revelation on the 'Howie Mandel Does Stuff' podcast about how they navigate daily life under the same roof.

Sandoval explained that they communicate through a middleman, coordinating their movements within the shared residence. Despite initial challenges, the former couple managed their living arrangements by maintaining separate spaces within the house.

The legal clash between Madix and Sandoval adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing drama, which unfolded amid the scandalous affair that captivated Hollywood.

Tom Sandoval reveals unconventional living arrangements with Ariana Madix on Howie Mandel's podcast

On the 'Howie Mandel Does Stuff' podcast in April, Tom Sandoval provided insight into his unique living situation with ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix, shedding light on the unconventional arrangements they have adopted since their highly publicized breakup.

Initially, he emphasized that the house the two live in is “a big house... it's almost like a three million dollar house.”

Sandoval divulged the details of their post-breakup living scenario, emphasizing the use of a "go-between" to facilitate communication. "We have a go-between. We text when we're coming and going," explained Sandoval during the podcast.

Describing their daily routine, he revealed, "All I do is I go into my room, and then she's in her room. She's downstairs. And then, I'll go into the gym, and I'll be in the gym, and when I'm done with the gym, I'll go back to my room. And then I'll go somewhere else."

Despite the apparent separation, Sandoval noted that he keeps others informed about his whereabouts, adding, "Sometimes, I stay away, but I always let them know. I've gone out of town a couple of times. But it's been OK... Initially, it wasn't great, and I had to stay away."

Central to their unique living arrangement is a middleman, tasked with coordinating and facilitating communication between Sandoval and Madix.

Sandoval shared an example of the messages he receives from the middleman, stating, "He'll text and be like, 'Ariana wants to try and use the gym at six,' and I'll be like, 'Ok, great.'" According to Sandoval, the middleman plays a significant role in "running" much of the household logistics.