Cobb County’s New Real Estate Filing System is a Major Disaster for Property Rights

October 29, 2024

It seems the hits just keep coming for Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor. Under her leadership, the court system has spiraled into chaos, prompting widespread frustration among attorneys and court users. And now, the latest twist—according to survey feedback from the Cobb County Bar Association, a controversial and confusing change in the real estate filing system—appears to be a nuclear situation.

Without warning or consultation with those who rely on it, a new system has been introduced for real estate and title filings. Feedback from real estate professionals indicates that this system is not only inferior to its predecessor but also looks and feels like something developed in 2000 by a lackluster IT department. The outdated interface and clunky navigation aren’t just frustrating to use; they actively delay critical real estate filings. As of now, the system is reportedly stuck weeks behind schedule, leaving real estate attorneys and title professionals scrambling to manage the backlog.

*https://landmark.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.com*

For professionals in the real estate and title industry, delayed filings and indexing errors aren’t just inconveniences—they can lead to a cascade of issues in lending, business operations, and contractual rights. Such errors risk buyers losing homes, businesses missing deadlines, and lenders facing legal exposure. For Cobb County residents and businesses, the consequences of a botched filing system are very real.

To add insult to injury, these changes came as a surprise. No consultation, no collaboration, and no warning. The Cobb County Bar Association has formally requested that Taylor’s office seek feedback from the Bar prior to making such impactful changes. They haven’t yet received an indication that the Clerk’s Office intends to involve them in future decisions.

A recent survey of Cobb County Bar members sheds light on the issues plaguing the Clerk’s Office, especially with the handling of electronic filings. With over 82% surveyed reporting a “poor” or “fair” filing process. Many lawyers also reported substantial dissatisfaction with the new ICON electronic filing system, citing the abrupt rollout of changes with little to no warning to the public or the Bar. The ICON system, designed to replace the previous CRIS filing system, faced sharp criticism for its lack of transparency and accessibility, issues compounded by intermittent outages and an inaccessible court website.

This pattern of isolated decision-making, which impacts the entire legal and real estate community in Cobb County, points to a leadership issue that demands immediate attention. Cobb County deserves better than a Clerk’s Office mired in delays, unresponsive systems, and ineffective management.

Attorney Adam Rozen, President of the Cobb County Bar Association, expressed his own deep concern, saying these issues compromise attorneys’ ability to represent clients effectively and serve the community.

To recap, the Cobb Superior Court Clerk’s Office has yet again become a focal point of failure and frustration. A judicial emergency order, a chaotic electronic filing system, and now, a botched real estate filing rollout are all signaling one thing: Cobb County’s court system needs a change in leadership that values transparency, collaboration, and competence. The residents, business owners, and legal professionals of Cobb County deserve a Clerk’s Office that works for them—not against them.

It’s time for accountability and responsible leadership that ensures Cobb County’s judicial and property rights systems serve the community as they should.