The ownership of property in Florida is not always straightforward. There are a variety of situations where a dispute could arise over a property title. A quiet title action is a legal proceeding that aims to resolve disputes over a property title and clarify who owns the property.
When is a quiet title action necessary?
A quiet title action is necessary when there is disagreement or confusion about whose name should be on the title of a specific piece of real estate. Here are some situations that can lead to quiet title actions:
• It is unclear who owns the property after the property owner died.
• The mortgage lender did not properly transfer the title after the mortgage was paid off.
• The property was left vacant for a long time, and outside parties claimed it.
• The previous owner created a quitclaim deed but didn’t clear up issues with the title.
• Outside parties are illegally occupying the property and trying to claim it.
• There is a dispute over ownership of the property because of a property lien.
What happens after a quiet title action?
After a quiet title action is settled, the owner of the property title should be made clear. If the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, then the plaintiff will be the legal owner of the property. The plaintiff will also be protected from any further ownership claims that might be made against their property.
What a quiet title action can’t do
There are some property title issues that a quiet title action can’t resolve. For example, if the current legal owner of a property has a complaint against the previous owner, a quiet title action can’t be used to clear up these issues.