How do I contact the Clerk of Court in North Carolina to update or discuss issues with an order issued for partition and equitable adjustments when new title search problems arise? - Florida
The Short Answer
If your case is in North Carolina, a Florida Clerk of Court generally cannot change, “update,” or interpret a North Carolina partition order—only the North Carolina court that issued the order can do that. In Florida, the clerk’s role in a partition case is typically administrative (filing, records, and in some situations carrying out a court-directed sale), while legal disputes about title defects or equitable adjustments usually require a motion/petition to the judge in the case.
What Florida Law Says
Under Florida law, partition is a court-supervised lawsuit, and the court (not the clerk acting informally) adjudicates the parties’ rights and interests and enters the partition judgment. If new title issues arise after an order, they are usually addressed through court filings in the same case (or related proceedings), because the court must ensure the final judgment and any resulting deed/recording actually convey marketable title.
The Statute
The primary law governing this issue is Fla. Stat. § 64.051.
This statute establishes that the court must adjudge the parties’ rights and interests and order partition when the parties are entitled to it, with the ability to leave certain interests for future adjustment in the same action.
Why You Should Speak with an Attorney
While the statute provides the general rule, applying it to your specific situation is rarely simple—especially when a new title search reveals defects after a partition order. Legal outcomes often depend on:
- Strict Deadlines: In Florida partition cases, there are short objection windows in certain stages (for example, objections to a commissioners’ report must be filed within 10 days after service under Fla. Stat. § 64.061(3)), and missing a deadline can limit your options.
- Burden of Proof: Title problems can involve missing heirs, unreleased liens, boundary/legal description issues, or prior deed defects—each requiring admissible evidence and the correct legal remedy.
- Exceptions and Court Authority: The clerk generally cannot give legal advice or “fix” an order by request; meaningful changes typically require a judge’s ruling in the correct jurisdiction (and if the order is from North Carolina, that usually means returning to the North Carolina case).
Trying to handle this through informal calls to the clerk can waste critical time and may not protect your ownership rights. A lawyer can identify the proper court, the correct filing, and the fastest path to clearing title so the partition result is enforceable and recordable.
Related reading: Can I set aside or modify a prior partition judgment in Florida?
Get Connected with a Florida Attorney
Do not leave your legal outcome to chance. We can connect you with a pre-screened Probate attorney in Florida to discuss your specific facts and options—especially if your title issue affects a Florida property or a Florida probate/partition proceeding.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information under Florida law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed attorney.