Bill > SB1310

This bill amends Arizona Revised Statutes section 33-420 to strengthen protections against fraudulent property documents by modifying penalties and legal recourse for recording false or groundless documents affecting real property. The bill increases financial penalties for individuals who knowingly record forged, invalid, or misleading documents, raising the minimum damages from $5,000 to "at least $5,000" or treble actual damages, whichever is greater. It also expands the legal grounds for property owners to bring special actions to clear their property titles and seek attorney fees. Significantly, the bill upgrades the criminal classification for recording such false documents from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 4 felony, signaling a more serious approach to punishing this type of document fraud. The legislation provides property owners with enhanced legal mechanisms to protect themselves against fraudulent claims, liens, or encumbrances, and imposes stricter consequences on those who attempt to wrongfully assert interests in real property through deceptive documentation.

Justice

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/82690