How Evictions Work in Guilford County: Who Executes Them and How to Cancel
If you’re dealing with an eviction in Guilford County, the biggest thing to know is this: it’s a court process, and the actual removal is handled by the Sheriff’s Office—not the landlord.
In Guilford County, a landlord has to get a court order or judgment (often through a civil magistrate) before a tenant can be evicted. That means a landlord can’t legally “self-evict” by changing locks, shutting off utilities, or otherwise forcing someone out on their own. If you’re a tenant, you can treat any attempt to remove you without a court order as a red flag. If you’re a landlord, the safest path is to follow the court process from the start so the eviction is enforceable and handled the right way.
Even after the case reaches the writ stage, the eviction still isn’t something a landlord can carry out personally. In Guilford County, only the Sheriff or the Sheriff’s deputies may serve a Writ of Possession for real property. That writ is what authorizes the Sheriff’s Office to carry out the eviction. In practical terms, if someone shows up claiming they can “execute the writ” but they aren’t the Sheriff or a deputy, that isn’t the lawful process for removing a tenant.
If an eviction is already scheduled and you need to stop it, you’ll need to act quickly and contact the right unit. To cancel a scheduled eviction in Guilford County, contact the Evictions Unit at (336) 641-3735 and also fax a cancellation request to (336) 641-7664. The Sheriff’s Office Legal Process Division can be reached at 336-641-3735 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., which is the window to make these requests and get confirmation on what they need from you.
- ✓ Call the Evictions Unit at (336) 641-3735 to request the cancellation
- ✓ Fax a written cancellation request to (336) 641-7664
- ✓ Include the reason you’re canceling (for example: the defendant paid, moved out, or you worked out another arrangement)
If your questions are about fees tied to executions or levy actions (like seizing and selling real property, vehicles, or personal property), the Sheriff’s Office handles those through the Legal Process Division. Call 336-641-3735 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and ask for an Execution Officer to find out the specific fees that apply in your situation.
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