Bill > S2715

This bill establishes the criminal offense of real estate title fraud, making it a felony punishable by significant prison time and fines for individuals who knowingly offer for recording or record forged signatures, fraudulently created instruments, or false encumbrances on real estate, with enhanced penalties for a pattern of such fraud. It also empowers municipalities to refuse to record "suspicious documents" from individuals who are not "trusted submitters" – defined as title insurers, licensed attorneys, or regulated financial institutions – and allows them to temporarily delay these documents, report them to law enforcement, or notify notarial officers involved. Furthermore, municipalities will be required to establish a free property alert notification system by January 1, 2028, allowing property owners to be notified within ten business days of any document being recorded that affects their property, and this system will include educational information on deed fraud. The bill also amends existing law to allow notarial officers to refuse to perform a notarial act if an individual does not provide sufficient information for identity proofing or consent to pay for it.