The existence of a life estate in real property does not bar a partition sale of the remainder or reversionary interest of the property, and for the purposes of partition, the tenants in common or joint tenants of the remainder or reversionary interest shall be deemed to possess the property as if no life estate existed. The partition shall not, however, interfere with the possession of the life tenant during the existence of the life tenant's estate.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 46A-79