Bill > H7551

This bill establishes the criminal offense of real estate title fraud, defining it as knowingly offering for recording or recording forged signatures, fraudulently created titles or instruments, fraudulent mortgages or liens, or knowingly falsely encumbering another's real estate, with penalties ranging from imprisonment up to ten years and fines up to $50,000 for a first offense, and up to twenty years and $100,000 for a pattern of such fraud, including restitution to victims. It also allows municipalities to refuse to record "suspicious documents" from individuals who are not "trusted submitters" – defined as title insurers, licensed attorneys, or regulated financial institutions – unless the filer provides sufficient identification, and grants municipal recorders the ability to temporarily delay suspicious documents, report them to law enforcement, or notify notarial officers involved. Furthermore, the bill mandates that municipalities establish a free property alert notification system by January 1, 2028, allowing property owners to enroll their property and receive notifications within ten business days of any document being recorded that affects it, and amends existing law to allow notarial officers to refuse to perform a notarial act if an individual doesn't provide sufficient identity proofing information or consent to pay for it.

Justice

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