I didn't think it'd be a load-bearing one! The wall divides my master bedroom and the master bath. The section of wall I want to move is only 6 feet. However, that same wall continues for another 12 feet separating the master bedroom from the main bathroom of the home. This wall is only 5 feet from and parallel to an exterior wall. That is why I didn't think it'd be a load-bearing partition. The wall in question has double top plates and looking at the floor joists from the basement, is directly above and parallel to two sistered 2x7s. My questions are 1)Is this wall load-bearing? 2)If so, can I sister another 2x7 to the adjacent floor joist and move the 6 foot section of wall directly over the newly sistered floor joists without a problem? I could leave the existing wall in place until the new wall is complete. I'm moving this wall to make my master bath a bit more practicle to a whooping 6'x6.5' Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks all!!!

There ain't no such animal as a 2x7. Are you sure they're not 2x8's? If the ceiling joists are parallel to the wall, chances are the wall isn't load-bearing. If so, and the floor joists are running parallel to the wall also, chances are the wall isn't load-bearing. But, the only person who can actually say for sure is the qualified design professional who has examined the house first-hand, and has taken into account all existing conditions which might affect the removal of the wall.

If it is a non-load-bearing wall, it is conventional to provide a double joist directly under the partition to carry the additional load of the wall itself. If the wall is moved, then double joists should be installed directly under the new wall location, for the same reason.

Have someone knowledgeable examine your house first-hand before you go chopping wood.

Thanks for the quick reply. I was apprehensive about calling it a 2x7, but when I measured it, the thickness was 1-3/4" and the width was exactly 7" - I was figuring it would've been 7-3/4" - The house was built in 1971. I won't have a chance to confirm the direction of the ceiling joists until tomorrow.

Wouldn't it be odd for a partition to be load-bearing seeing as it was erected just 5 feet from an obviously load-bearing, exterior wall?

Who should I call to verify this? Would I call an architect? Would posting pictures of my situation help you make a determination?

By the way, this is a one floor ranch.

Thanks again Richard!

An architect, or a structural engineer, or even a good contractor will be able to advise you. It's just a matter of someone seeing everything there is to see...even a picture can be misleading. Don't pay a ton of money for it...you'll find someone who will do it either inexpensively, or as a favor.