Bill > HB1943

This bill introduces the Real Property Fraud Prevention Act, which establishes new procedures for recording deeds to prevent property fraud. The bill requires county recorders of deeds to delay recording general warranty or quitclaim deeds for at least five working days and notify property owners by telephone, text, email, or first-class mail when a deed affecting their property has been submitted for recording. If property owners confirm the deed is legitimate, it can be recorded immediately; if they claim it's fraudulent, the recorder must delay recording for an additional two business days to allow owners to seek a court order. The bill provides exceptions for deeds submitted by licensed real estate brokers or reviewed by title companies. Additionally, the bill allows recorders to reject "defective deeds" that lack proper information, signatures, or notarization. The legislation also modifies provisions related to filing false documents, increasing penalties for fraudulent document filing and creating a new process for property owners to report potentially fraudulent property transactions to law enforcement. Other provisions include stricter regulations on notary seals and notarial acts, with increased fines and potential criminal penalties for various forms of notary-related misconduct.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1943&year=2026&code=R