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Deed fraud

Someone records a deed or similar instrument making it look like they own your property. That is a different problem from a lien. This page is a first-draft guide to spotting the difference, what to do next, and which state tools LienGuardAI has re-checked against live primary sources.

This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current forms, fees, and deadlines on the official government sites linked below, and talk to an attorney about your situation. LienGuardAI does not file anything for you and does not retrieve or store land-records search results. See Legal Disclaimer & Terms of Use.

What deed fraud is — and what it isn’t

A lien is a claim that someone is owed money from your property. You still own it, but the claim can block a sale or refinance until it’s cleared. Most of this site is about fraudulent UCC filings and real-property liens — see your state’s page.

A fraudulent deed (or similar conveyance instrument) is paperwork that claims ownership itself was transferred. On the public record, it can look like you sold or quitclaimed the property. Undoing that is usually heavier than clearing a lien. For a short side-by-side, see liens vs. deed fraud.

If you think this happened to you

  1. 1Check the county land records (or city register) where the property sits — look for any deed, quitclaim, mortgage, or deed of trust you did not authorize.
  2. 2Contact the recorder / register / clerk’s office that accepted the filing and ask what their process is for suspected fraudulent conveyances.
  3. 3If you believe a signature was forged or the instrument is criminal fraud, report it to local law enforcement and, where available, the district attorney or sheriff’s deed-fraud unit.
  4. 4If you have an owner’s title policy, open a claim with the title company — it may pay covered losses, but it does not by itself restore the public record (see below).
  5. 5Talk to a real-estate or title attorney promptly. Texas has a dedicated owner-affidavit path; several other states have verified recorder or court tools on this page. Elsewhere the usual tool is still a quiet-title (or similar) action — LienGuardAI is not inventing a statute for every other state.

Alabama — petition to nullify or expunge Verified

Rechecked 2026-10-03 after SB 292 took effect on October 1, 2026: amended §13A-9-12(e) read in the SB 292 enrolled text (Section 4), and the live Code of Alabama confirmed to show the judge-of-probate wording with history “Act 2026-536.”

Ala. Code §13A-9-12 pairs criminal false-instrument offenses with an administrative cleanup path as in force since October 1, 2026:

  • Criminal: offering a false instrument for recording is a Class A misdemeanor ((a)–(b)); against a public servant it is a Class C felony ((c)–(d)).
  • Petition to nullify/expunge (§13A-9-12(e)): a person or entity whose rights are affected by a false or fraudulent lien, deed, or other instrument may petition the judge of probate (before October 1, 2026 the statute said “recording official”). The petition is in writing, sworn under oath, and based on personal knowledge, and a copy goes to the filer by certified and first-class mail. Within 14 days the judge of probate notifies the filer, who has 14 days to submit proof of validity. A petition not granted within 28 days is deemed denied. Orders wait 28 days (or the end of any appeal) before taking effect; a final granting order names the parties, gives the recording data, and declares the instrument nullified and expunged. Appeals go to circuit court (de novo), including Montgomery County as an alternate venue.

Not a Texas-style owner affidavit, and not a same-day clerk delete without the statutory clock. See SB 292 below for the rest of the package that took effect the same day.

Citations (rechecked 2026-10-03)

Alabama SB 292 — in effect since October 1, 2026 Verified

The Alabama Property Protection Act of 2026 (SB 292, Act 2026-536) became law 2026-04-16 and took effect October 1, 2026 (enrolled text, Section 5). Live-code check 2026-10-03 confirmed the §13A-9-12 and §13A-9-22 amendments; the other items below are summarized from the enrolled text.

The package (among other items):

  • ASC administrative path (new Title 35, Chapter 21): the Alabama Securities Commission may investigate land-fraud / fraudulent-conveyance complaints and issue a final administrative order declaring a conveyance void, with civil penalties / restitution tools and de novo circuit appeal.
  • §13A-9-12 amendments: petitions run to the judge of probate (was “recording official”); text expressly covers a false or fraudulent lien, deed, or other instrument; final granting orders must identify parties and recording data and declare the instrument nullified/expunged.
  • §13A-9-22: fraudulent sale or lease of residential real property is a Class D felony (was Class A misdemeanor).
  • New §13A-9-23: aggravated fraudulent sale or lease of residential real property is a Class C felony (funds received, or owner age 70+).
  • Optional alerts (§12-13-55): each judge of probate may establish a free owner-notification service — not a statewide mandate, so a given county may not offer one. The Commission may also fund a statewide text/email alert system (§35-21-6).
  • Expedited quiet title: amendments to §§6-6-540 / 6-6-545 / 6-6-571 for fraudulent-conveyance quiet-title timing and fee recovery.
Citations (rechecked 2026-10-03)

Alaska — private NCCL release + damages Verified

Checked against enacting/live AS 09.45.161–.169 / 11.46.550–.560 text via akleg.gov bill/statute hosts on 2026-08-10.

Private vs officials: private owners use §09.45.164 / §09.45.167. The attorney notice path under §09.45.161 is for public-servant targets; the release petition and damages are available to private owners.
  • NCCL-scoped (companion §34.35.950) — not a TX-style deed affidavit; not a general forged-deed clerk refuse.
  • §09.45.164: any person whose property is subject to a recorded NCCL claim may petition for release (affidavit-supported; may seek hearing within 20 days; order may be ex parte) → release + costs/fees if invalid.
  • §09.45.167: offering an NCCL without a court order → actual + punitive damages + costs/fees.
  • §09.45.161: attorney notice of invalid lien when an NCCL targets a public servant without a court order.
  • Criminal: §11.46.550 (1st degree / class C felony — false instrument with intent to defraud); §11.46.560 (2d degree / class A misdemeanor — unauthorized lien with reckless disregard).

Details: Alaska state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Arizona — false documents / special action Verified

Checked against live A.R.S. §33-420 on 2026-09-15 (SB 1479, Ch. 31, general effective date 2026-09-12; live ARS now shows the amended text).

Arizona’s current statute covers forged, groundless, materially false, or otherwise invalid recorded documents that purport to claim an interest in, or a lien or encumbrance against, real property — broader than “deed only.” Under §33-420(C) the 20-day clock runs from “a written request”; the statute prescribes no content or format, and no official form exists.

  • Damages for recording: knowing (or having reason to know) recording → liability of at least $5,000 or treble actual damages, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney fees and costs (§33-420(A)).
  • Special action to clear title: owner or beneficial title holder may sue in superior court in the county where the property sits for relief to immediately clear title under the rules for special actions (§33-420(B)), alone or joined with damages.
  • 20-day written request: a person named in such a document who knows it is invalid and willfully refuses to release or correct within 20 days of a written owner request faces at least $1,000 or treble damages plus fees (§33-420(C)).
  • Current crime: the same knowing recording conduct is a class 5 felony on the live ARS page (§33-420(E)) as of this check.

More on the written-request description and lien framing: Arizona state page.

Citations (checked 2026-09-15)

Arizona — photo ID, thumbprint, and assessor notice Verified

Companion live ARS pages checked 2026-09-15 (same Chapter 31 package; general effective date 2026-09-12).

These recording-side rules are now on the live ARS pages. They do not replace a quiet-title or §33-420 special action after something is already recorded.

  • Photo identification (§11-472): for a document recorded in person at the recorder’s office or at a recording kiosk, a person shall provide a valid form of photo identification unless the document is submitted by an escrow officer or office, a title insurance agent or title insurer as defined in §20-1562, a state- or federally chartered bank or credit union, an active member of the state bar of Arizona, or a governmental entity. The recorder may not retain a copy of the identification, but shall note the type, the name on the identification, and the identification number; that noted information is not a public record.
  • Notary thumbprint (§41-254(C)): if the document to be notarized is a deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust, or other document that affects real property, or a power of attorney document, the notary public shall require the party signing to place the party’s right thumbprint in the notary’s journal (left thumb, any available finger, or a physical-inability note if needed). Subsection (D) lists exceptions, including a trustee’s deed from a judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure, a deed of release and reconveyance, and some remote notarizations under §41-263.
  • Assessor owner notice (§11-544): on or before January 1, 2027, the assessor shall provide a system for notifying an owner of a parcel when the assessor receives notice of a change in the ownership of, or the mailing address for the owner of, the parcel. The system shall allow an owner to choose to participate and is voluntary for the owner; notice is to be provided promptly by email, text message, or other similar means. This is a mandate with a 2027 stand-up date — not a claim that every county assessor already runs it today. It is also distinct from existing county-recorder Title Alert programs (for example Maricopa).
Citations (checked 2026-09-15)

Arkansas — false instruments clouding title Verified

Checked against live Ark. Code §5-37-226 on codes.findlaw.com on 2026-08-10.

Who the remedies cover: civil treble damages under (c) are for any owner, lessee, or assignee who must bring a civil action to clear title — not only public-role victims. The Class C felony bump under (b)(2) is the part scoped to listed officials targeted because of official duties.

Ark. Code §5-37-226 is post-recording criminal + civil — no recorder refuse power:

  • Unlawful to place of record (county recorder or Secretary of State) an instrument known to lack authenticity/genuineness that clouds title, with purpose to impair transferability or to extract money to clear the record.
  • Penalty: Class A misdemeanor; Class D felony on subsequent conviction; Class C felony if done because of official duties of a listed public victim (judge, prosecutor, LEO, elected official, etc.).
  • Civil (c): owner/lessee/assignee who must sue to remove the cloud may recover treble actual damages, punitive damages, and costs including reasonable attorney’s fees.
  • Carve-out for bona fide lis pendens, materialmen’s/laborer’s liens, and other legitimate protective filings.

Details: Arkansas state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

California — mandatory recorder notification by 2027 Verified

Checked against live SB 255 / Gov’t Code §27297.7 on 2026-08-01.

California requires every county to establish a recorder notification program on or before January 1, 2027, with an authorizing resolution from the board of supervisors. After that program is authorized, the county recorder must mail notice within 30 days of recording a deed, quitclaim deed, mortgage, or deed of trust, to the address used for tax bills before the recording. Counties may also offer optional electronic alerts. This is a mandate rolling out by 2027 — not a claim that every county already runs it today.

Los Angeles County carve-out: Gov’t Code §27297.7(g) says the new mandate does not apply to a county that operates a notification program under §27297.6 — LA County’s separate statutory program. LA’s existing Enhanced Homeowner Notification Program is linked in the alerts section below.

Citations (checked 2026-08-01)
  • Cal. Gov’t Code §27297.7 — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (repealed and added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 351 (SB 255); effective Jan. 1, 2026)
  • SB 255 (Seyarto), Chapter 351, Statutes of 2025 — chaptered bill text
  • Cal. Gov’t Code §27297.6 — LA County notification authority (cross-referenced by §27297.7(g))

Colorado — spurious documents Verified

Checked against C.R.S. §38-35-201–204 hosts on 2026-08-04 (colorado.public.law / Justia 2025 text; sourced to leg.colorado.gov CRS title 38 PDF).

Colorado’s Part 2 “spurious liens and documents” scheme is broader than deeds alone:

  • Definitions (§38-35-201): a “spurious document” is forged or groundless, contains a material misstatement or false claim, or is otherwise patently invalid. A “spurious lien” is a purported lien not provided by statute/ordinance, not agreed to by the owner, or not imposed by court order.
  • Clerk may reject (§38-35-202): any state or local official — including the county clerk and recorder and the Secretary of State — may accept or reject a document they reasonably believe in good faith may be a spurious lien or spurious document, with immunity for that choice.
  • Show-cause petition (§38-35-204): an affected person may petition district court (or federal district court in Colorado) for an order to show cause why the filing should not be declared invalid. The order may issue ex parte; hearing is set 14–21 days after service. If the court finds the filing spurious, it declares it invalid, releases it, and awards the petitioner costs and reasonable attorney fees (fee-shifting also runs the other way if the filing is not spurious).

Details and the show-cause framing also appear on the Colorado state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-04)

Connecticut — discharge of invalid lien Verified

Checked against live Conn. Gen. Stat. §49-51 on cga.ct.gov chapter 847 on 2026-08-09 (prior miss was fetching chapter 846).

Which statute: §49-51 is in chapter 847 (Liens). This is different from §49-13 (chapter 846 — stale mortgages / ineffective attachment, lis pendens, or lien) or §49-8a (mortgage-payoff affidavit).

Conn. Gen. Stat. §49-51 is a post-recording court path:

  • Person with an interest in property described in an invalid certificate of lien may give the lienor registered/certified-mail notice (return receipt) demanding discharge.
  • If the lien is not discharged within 30 days, the interest holder may apply to Superior Court; the court may adjudge validity and award damages for failure to discharge.
  • If the certificate was filed without just cause, discretionary weekly damages of $100/week after the 30 days, capped at the greater of $5,000 or actual loss (including reasonable attorney’s fees).
  • For real property, a certified judgment of invalidity/discharge recorded on the town land records fully discharges the lien ((b)).

Details: Connecticut state page. Stamford Property Alert is town-only.

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

Delaware — false instrument + deed forgery crimes Verified

Checked against live 11 Del. C. §§861 and 877 on delcode.delaware.gov on 2026-08-10.

  • No dedicated RP fraudulent-lien petition, NCCL chapter, or clerk refuse/remove package confirmed.
  • 11 Del. C. §877: offering a false instrument for filing (knowing false statement/info + intent to defraud) = class A misdemeanor.
  • §861(b)(2): forgery 2d degree when the instrument is/purports to be a deed or other instrument affecting legal rights, or a public record / instrument filed with a public office = class G felony.
  • Clearing title still runs through quiet-title counsel. UCC stays no non-uniform refuse + no free public search.

Details: Delaware state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

District of Columbia — forgery ladder for deeds/public records Verified

Checked against live D.C. Code §§22-3241 / 3242 / 1402 on code.dccouncil.gov on 2026-08-10.

Not applicable: §42-1207 is lis pendens — not a fraudulent-instrument ROD petition.
  • §22-3241: forgery — make/draw/utter a forged written instrument with intent to defraud/injure.
  • §22-3242(a)(3),(6): ≤10 years / fine when the instrument purports to be a public record or instrument filed in a public office, or a deed/instrument affecting legal rights.
  • §22-1402 (narrow): maliciously recording a deed/contract with no title/color of title and intent to extort → fine ≥$1,000 and/or ≤180 days.
  • UCC: no non-uniform refuse; §41-204 is a narrow, financing-statement-only crime whose outdated Article 9 cross-references leave its reach over current filings unsettled. No ROD strike petition or TX-style affidavit confirmed.

See the D.C. state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Florida — false instruments (criminal + civil) Verified

Checked against live 2025 Florida Statutes on 2026-08-04.

Florida does not offer a Texas-style owner affidavit that clears the record at the clerk. Its dedicated tool is Fla. Stat. §817.535: filing (or directing the filing of) an instrument that contains a materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement purporting to affect an owner’s interest in property, with intent to defraud or harass, is a third-degree felony (higher degrees on repeat or certain aggravating facts). The same statute gives any person adversely affected a civil cause of action — without waiting for criminal charges — but a notice of lis pendens under §48.23 is required.

  • On a finding that the instrument does not establish a legitimate property or lien interest, the court may declare all or part of it null and void ab initio, order sealing/removal from the official record and electronic indexes, and enjoin further filings.
  • With intent to defraud or harass, the court or jury awards actual and punitive damages; the court may also levy a $2,500 civil penalty per instrument. Prevailing party recovers costs and reasonable attorney fees.
  • Construction liens under part I of chapter 713 are steered to §713.31, not this section.
Court path, not a clerk delete. County recording offices will not administratively erase a fraudulent deed under this statute. §817.535 is a court remedy; details also appear on the Florida state page.
Citations (checked 2026-08-04)

Georgia — false-document felony + FANS alerts Not separately re-checked

Based on the Georgia state page's citations (Ga. Code §16-10-20.1, §44-14-320) and the live GSCCCA FANS portal on 2026-08-09; this section was not separately re-checked against statute text (no Texas-style affidavit found).

Georgia remains criminal/court-leaning for deed-style fraud — not a clerk refuse/remove state like South Carolina:

  • False documents in public records (Ga. Code §16-10-20.1): felony for knowingly filing a false document, expressly including liens/encumbrances.
  • Nonconforming/unauthorized liens (Ga. Code §44-14-320): treated as nullities; ex parte superior-court petition to cancel — an unauthorized-lien pathway, not a general “materially fraudulent deed” standard.
  • Statewide alerts: GSCCCA’s free FANS (Filing Activity Notification System) covers every Georgia county from one signup.

Details: Georgia state page. §44-2-20 is about recorded land affidavits as notice.

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)
  • State-page primary framing: Ga. Code §16-10-20.1; §44-14-320
  • FANS portal — fans.gsccca.org

Hawaii — NCCL court-order gate + Property Watch Verified

Checked against live capitol.hawaii.gov HRS §507D-5 / §507D-7 HTML on 2026-08-15.

Hawaii’s distinctive land tool is chapter 507D’s nonconsensual common-law lien scheme — not a general forged-deed clerk delete:

  • Registrar shall not accept (Haw. Rev. Stat. §507D-5(c)): an NCCL claim may not be filed unless accompanied by a certified state or federal court order authorizing the filing. Claims against public officers/employees and private parties without that order are invalid ((a)–(b)).
  • Expunge / sanctions (§507D-7): if circuit court finds the purported lien invalid, it orders the registrar to expunge it (void from inception) and may award actual damages, costs, and fees; frivolous filings can trigger the greater of actual damages or $5,000, plus possible five-year filing injunctions.
  • Statewide alerts: Bureau of Conveyances Property Watch covers the whole state from one portal (Hawaii records centrally). The state warns it will not prevent a fraudulent recording.

Details: Hawaii state page (also covers §507D-4 financing-statement validity requests).

Citations (checked 2026-08-15)

Idaho — NCCL release petition + forged-instrument felony Verified

Checked against live Idaho Code §§45-811 and 18-3203 on legislature.idaho.gov on 2026-08-10.

Idaho’s land-side package is NCCL + criminal — not a TX-style deed affidavit:

  • NCCL ban (§45-811): nonconsensual common-law liens prohibited; clerks immunized if one is accepted anyway.
  • Release petition: district-court petition (may be heard ex parte; filing fee set by statute); show-cause to lienor in 15–30 days; release order if showing insufficient.
  • Damages floor: after written withdrawal demand, ≥ $5,000 or actual damages + costs/fees if the filer refuses or fails to withdraw ((4)).
  • Forged instrument (§18-3203): knowingly offering a false or forged instrument for filing/recording in a public office = felony. Criminal framing for forged deeds — not a clerk delete tool.

Details: Idaho state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Illinois — recorder fraud referral + alerts Verified

Checked against Public Act 104-0382 (SB 1523) on 2026-08-04; effective date 1/1/2026 on the official Public Acts page.

Illinois does not offer a Texas-style owner affidavit. Its dedicated Counties Code tools (as amended by Public Act 104-0382 / SB 1523, effective January 1, 2026) center on the county recorder:

  • Fraud referral & review (55 ILCS 5/3-5010.5): every recorder shall establish a process to review deeds/instruments and may refer filings the recorder reasonably believes may be fraudulent, unlawfully altered, or intended to unlawfully cloud or transfer title to an administrative law judge. A fraud judgment is recorded so the instrument does not affect the chain of title. Counties under 3 million population must give 90 days’ public notice before standing the process up — so local rollout can lag the statewide effective date.
  • Property fraud alert (55 ILCS 5/3-5010.10): every county shall establish and maintain a voluntary property fraud alert system. Cook County’s signup is linked in the alerts section below as the largest-county example.
  • Private right of action (55 ILCS 5/3-5010.11): a person who knowingly files such a fraudulent/altered/title-clouding deed or instrument may be held liable to the rightful owner for appropriate legal or equitable relief.
Which statute: these are Counties Code provisions (55 ILCS 5/…), not the UCC chapter. Details also appear on the Illinois state page.
Citations (checked 2026-08-04)

Indiana — 2026 bills Verified — not enacted

Bill-details last actions rechecked on 2026-08-30 (still first-reading referrals only). The Digest of Enactments and the Enrolled Act to Public Law table were read on 2026-08-15; on later checks those PDF links returned a JavaScript page instead of the documents.

Not enacted law. Two 2026 bills addressed deed-fraud themes: Senate Bill 253 (recorder authority / property alert systems / deed-fraud task force) and House Bill 1125 (false or fraudulent deeds as a deceptive act enforceable by the attorney general). The official IGA Notices & Updates page states the House and Senate have adjourned sine die. Neither bill appears in the 2026 Digest of Enactments (updated March 2, 2026; all public laws through the 124th General Assembly, Second Regular Session) or the Enrolled Act to Public Law table (LSA summary dated March 12, 2026 — SEA 253 and HEA 1125 are absent; the Senate enrolled list jumps from SEA 249 to SEA 254). Bill-details pages still show first-reading referrals only (SB 253 → Local Government, 01/08/2026; HB 1125 → Judiciary, 01/05/2026). These bills are not current law. Marion County’s existing opt-in alerts remain a county example, not a statewide mandate.

Official trackers: SB 253 · HB 1125. Related context also appears on the Indiana state page.

Iowa — court validation before nonstatutory liens record Verified

Checked against Iowa Code §575.1 PDF (Iowa Code 2026) on legis.iowa.gov on 2026-08-09.

Iowa Code §575.1 is a front-door design for nonstatutory / common-law / equitable liens — not a forged-deed affidavit:

  • Claimant must give notice to legal/equitable owners and persons in possession (Iowa R. Civ. P.) before filing.
  • Before recording in any county office of record, the district-court clerk must confirm notices were given and the district court must hold a hearing on validity (claimant’s burden by preponderance). Willful/malicious pursuit can yield damages, costs, and fees for a resisting party.
  • A lien of this type filed other than as provided is null and void. If the court finds the lien valid, the claimant files a certified copy of the order with the county recorder.
Scope: ordinary statutory liens and ordinary deeds are outside this gate. §575.1 does not cover every fraudulent conveyance. See Iowa.
Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

Kansas — expedited judicial review of fraudulent liens Verified

Checked against live K.S.A. 58-4301 on ksrevisor.gov on 2026-08-09.

Kan. Stat. §58-4301 is a post-recording court path — not clerk refusal:

  • An owner (or purported debtor/obligor) who believes a filed document purporting to create a lien or claim is fraudulent may file a no-fee district-court motion for judicial review, supported by affidavit (judicial-council form compliance is sufficient).
  • Review may be ex parte and on the documents alone; the court enters findings/conclusions filed back in the original filing office and may order the filing officer to nullify the instrument (UCC filings: order acts as a termination statement).
  • “Fraudulent” is defined by presumption: not provided for by constitution/laws; not created by required consent/agreement; or not an equitable/constructive lien imposed by a court with jurisdiction ((e)). Filing offices expressly include registers of deeds and the Secretary of State ((f)).

Scoped to liens/claims — it is not a general substitute for a fraudulent-deed quiet-title action. Details: Kansas state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

Kentucky — filing an illegal lien Verified

Checked against live KRS §434.155 on apps.legislature.ky.gov on 2026-08-10.

Ky. Rev. Stat. §434.155 is a dedicated criminal statute — not a clerk refuse or owner petition package:

  • Filing a document or lien the filer knows or should have known was forged, groundless, contained a material misstatement, or was a false claim = filing an illegal lien.
  • Penalties: Class D felony (1st) / Class C (2d) / Class B (subsequent). Affirmative defense that a material misstatement was not intentional.
  • §382.365 covers satisfied-lien release / daily damages — not fraud filing.
2025 SB 194 (deed-fraud education + county clerk notification mandate) last action was to Senate Judiciary on 02/20/2025 and is not enacted. There is no statewide alert mandate. Some counties already offer voluntary alerts (see Jefferson County on the state page).

Details: Kentucky state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Louisiana — false public records + officials-only false lien Verified

Checked against live La. Rev. Stat. §§14:133 and 14:133.6 on legis.la.gov on 2026-08-10.

UCC note: Louisiana's version of UCC §9-516 leaves subsection (d) “reserved” — the uniform rule treating a wrongly rejected financing statement as effective is not in its text. Relevant mainly if you are the filer.
  • §14:133: filing/depositing for record (or maintaining as required) a forged, wrongfully altered, or materially false document, knowing of its falsity — up to 5 years and/or $5,000. General tool that can reach forged deeds/instruments.
  • §14:133.6: knowingly filing a false lien/encumbrance against a law-enforcement, court, state officer, or state employee as retaliation for official duties — fine (≥$500 up to lien value) and/or up to 2 years, plus possible restitution. Officials-only.
  • Not applicable: §9:5622 is not a fraudulent-lien statute — it exists but covers informalities in auction sales, not fraudulent liens. No private civil fraudulent-lien petition or clerk refuse/remove package confirmed — clearing parish records is done through a quiet-title action.

Details: Louisiana state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Maine — Class D false filing of deeds/mortgages Verified

Checked against live 17-A M.R.S. §706-A and 5 M.R.S. §90-F on legislature.maine.gov on 2026-08-10.

SoS vs registry: title 5 §90-F lets the Secretary of State refuse/remove materially false filings presented to the SoS. It is not a county registry-of-deeds refuse/remove power.

The dedicated land-side criminal hook is 17-A M.R.S. §706-A:

  • With intent to defraud, harass, or intimidate, filing a will, deed, mortgage, security instrument, or other recordable writing knowing/believing it false or without legal authority = Class D crime.
  • Criminal only — no clerk delete and no private statutory CoA in that section. Clearing the record is done through a quiet-title action.

Details: Maine state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Maryland — false-info deed misdemeanor + quiet-title fee-shift Verified

Checked against live Real Prop. §§3-104.2 and 14-617 on mgaleg.maryland.gov on 2026-08-10.

Note: §3-104.2 is a misdemeanor with a fine not exceeding $500 — not a title-theft felony and not a clerk delete power.
  • Real Prop. §3-104.2 (2024 Ch. 369): person may not record a deed or other instrument the person knows contains false information, including ownership-related information.
  • §14-617(c): in quiet-title actions, court may award costs and reasonable attorney’s fees when a claim/defense relates to an alleged §3-104.2 violation (subject to §14-607(b)).
  • Crim. Law §3-808: false/fictitious/fraudulent liens (§3-807 is a different offense).
  • Quiet-title / cloud removal under §14-108 remains the civil clearing path. No TX-style owner affidavit confirmed.

Maryland's UCC tool (§9-501.1 post-acceptance termination) is on the Maryland state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Massachusetts — deed forgery + uttering felonies Verified

Checked against live Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 267 §§1 / 5 and ch. 36 §§12A / 24 on malegislature.gov on 2026-08-10.

Which statute: ch. 36 §24 is federal-lien recording — mismatched for fraudulent-lien cleanup, not repealed. §12A is mechanical refuse only (cannot duplicate/record) — not fraud.
  • ch. 267 §1: forging a deed, muniment of title, public record, Land Court certificate/index, etc., with intent to injure/defraud → state prison ≤10 years or jail ≤2 years.
  • ch. 267 §5: uttering a false/forged deed or instrument listed in §§1–4 as true, knowing it false → same penalties.
  • No NCCL petition, fraud-specific register refuse, or TX-style owner affidavit confirmed. Clearing title = quiet-title / Land Court counsel.
  • Alerts: free SoS-hosted Consumer Notification Service (participating registries; admin program, not a statute mandate).

See the Massachusetts state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Michigan — harassing encumbrance damages Verified

Checked against live MCL §565.25 (legislature.mi.gov) and official MCL §600.2907a PDF on 2026-08-09.

Michigan does not give registers a general fraud-refusal screen for deeds. The dedicated real-property package is post-recording civil/criminal liability for harassing encumbrances:

  • Perfecting encumbrances (MCL §565.25): recording a levy, attachment, lien, lis pendens, sheriff’s/marshal’s certificate, or other instrument of encumbrance does not perfect it unless a court finds it was accompanied by a full/fair accounting of supporting facts and proof of service of actual notice on the recorded landowner — with listed exemptions (tax liens, statutory/federal filings, consensual agreements including mortgages, court orders, commercial lending institutions, etc.).
  • Harassing filing liability (MCL §600.2907a): a non-exempt person who encumbers property by recording without lawful cause with intent to harass or intimidate is liable for costs (including actual attorney fees), damages sustained, and exemplary damages — not treble. Same conduct is a felony (up to 3 years / $5,000).

State page also covers statutory UCC refusal under §440.9520(5): Michigan.

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

Minnesota — NCCL no-duty gate + release petition Verified

Checked against live Minn. Stat. §514.99 on revisor.mn.gov (2025) on 2026-08-09.

Minn. Stat. §514.99 is a general NCCL statute (not officials-only for the core gate):

  • No duty to accept (subd. 2): no person must accept an NCCL claim for filing/recording unless it has a specific court order authorizing filing, an affidavit of personal service or certified-mail notice on the subject of the lien, and the claimant’s mailing address. Recording officers have immunity for acceptance or rejection.
  • Petition for release (subd. 3): interest holder may petition district court (may be ex parte; show-cause hearing 6–21 days after service; no filing fee; expedited). Court may strike/release an invalid claim and award actual damages, costs, and fees.
  • Public officials (subd. 4) + penalties (subd. 5): duty-based liens against public officials/employees are invalid without court order/statute; knowing submission of forged/groundless/false NCCL documents → liability of at least $5,000 or actual damages, plus costs/fees (punitive available).

UCC §545.05 is not a land-deed tool. Details: Minnesota.

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

Mississippi — deed forgery + officials false-lien crime Official-text check pending

Checked against unofficial reprints of Miss. Code §§97-7-73 / 97-21-63 on 2026-08-10; a check against the official code text is still pending. SB 2751 official history XML rechecked 2026-08-30 — disposition still Dead (Died In Committee 2026-02-03).

SB 2751 dead: the 2026 Mississippi Deed Fraud Prevention Act (clerk refuse + statewide alerts + forged-deed CoA) has disposition Dead (Judiciary A; last change 2026-02-03). It is not law. County alerts remain opt-in.
  • UCC §75-9-501.1 refuse/terminate stays on the state page — strong for financing statements.
  • §97-21-63: forgery of a will, deed, or other instrument transferring a property interest (or false acknowledgment/proof of a recordable instrument) with intent to defraud.
  • §97-7-73: officials-only — offering for recording a materially false lien/encumbrance against a LEO/public official/employee with intent to defraud/intimidate/harass/impede.
  • §85-7-429 is not a general deed-fraud statute (construction-lien article only). No private petition against nonconsensual common-law liens was confirmed.

Details: Mississippi state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Missouri — NCCL reject + owner nullify petition Verified

Checked against live RSMo §§428.110 and 428.120 on revisor.mo.gov on 2026-08-09.

Missouri’s land-side tools in chapter 428 are nonconsensual common-law lien (NCCL) tools — not a Texas-style deed affidavit:

  • Clerk may reject (§428.110): any filing officer may reject an NCCL for filing/recording, with carve-outs for documents authorized by contract/lease/statute, court-imposed liens, or filings by licensed attorneys, financial institutions, or Missouri-licensed mortgage companies/brokers. If an NCCL was accepted, the officer shall accept a sworn Notice of Invalid Lien from the person against whom it was filed (form provided by the officer); copy mailed to the claimant within one business day. Immunity for acceptance or rejection.
  • Owner petition (§428.120): a person with property subject to a recorded NCCL may petition circuit court for an order (may be ex parte) directing the claimant to appear within 10 business days after service and show cause why the lien should not be declared void. Affidavit support required. §428.115 is the rejected claimant’s force-filing petition, not an owner tool.

Details: Missouri state page (also covers broad UCC refusal under §400.9-516).

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

Montana — UCC reject/remove + NCCL petition Verified

Checked against live MCA §30-9A-420 and §27-1-1505 on leg.mt.gov on 2026-08-09.

Scope: §30-9A-420 is not a general recording-officer refuse/remove tool. It sits in UCC Title 30, Chapter 9A and speaks of secured party / debtor notice — it is a UCC filing-officer statute, not county-deed deletion authority.
  • UCC (§30-9A-420): filing officer may reject or remove an improper/fraudulent lien after notice and opportunity to respond to the secured party and debtor; adversely affected persons may recover treble damages under (2).
  • Land NCCL (§27-1-1505): nonconsensual common-law liens are banned; an affected person may petition district court to order removal, with costs, fees, and actual damages against the filer.

Details on the Montana state page. Gallatin Fraud Guard remains reported (signup not independently completed).

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

Nebraska — clerks shall refuse NCCLs Verified

Checked against live Neb. Rev. Stat. §§52-1903 and 52-1904 on nebraskalegislature.gov on 2026-08-09.

Nebraska’s land-side chapter 52 tools are NCCL-only — not a forged-deed affidavit:

  • Mandatory refuse (§52-1903): the Secretary of State, county clerk, register of deeds, or court clerk shall refuse to accept any nonconsensual common-law lien for filing.
  • Strike from record (§52-1904): once a court determines a filing is an NCCL, it is stricken from the filing office’s record on a valid court order (no filing fee for that order).

Civil liability sits elsewhere in the chapter (§52-1907 on the state page). Details: Nebraska.

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

Nevada — recorder denial + false-title felony Verified

Checked against live NRS on 2026-08-04.

Nevada’s tools are split between a short recorder-side gate and a criminal/civil false-title statute — again not a Texas-style affidavit path.

  • Recorder denial (NRS 247.145): a county recorder may deny recording within 2 judicial days if the document is unauthorized, falsified, or otherwise may not be lawfully recorded, with written notice and a right to district-court review. Good-faith denials are generally immune from damages.
  • False representation concerning title (NRS 205.395): knowingly (or with reason to know) recording or causing recording of a forged, groundless, or materially false interest/lien document is a category C felony (pattern conduct can be category B). Civil damages for the beneficial owner require a prior written request to record a correcting document; if corrected within 20 days, that civil action is barred. The Attorney General may also seek a civil penalty up to $5,000 per violation.

State-page context: Nevada. Clark County’s free recording notification is in the site’s alert table.

Citations (checked 2026-08-04)

New Hampshire — fraudulent-lien indexing Verified

Checked against live RSA §478:42 on gencourt.state.nh.us on 2026-08-09.

N.H. Rev. Stat. §478:42 is a registry fraudulent-lien scheme — not a general deed-refusal statute and not a UCC Article 9 pre-filing screen:

  • Presenting a document that fraudulently purports to memorialize a lien without legal authorization is prohibited; certain court-less lien claims are presumed fraudulent ((I)–(II)). Mechanic’s/statutory liens are carved out ((III)).
  • If a register (or other public official) good-faith believes a filed document purports to create a fraudulent lien, the office indexes it only under the signer in the grantor index, labels it as a notice, and sends a copy to the county attorney or Attorney General ((IV)).
  • Documents presumed/deemed fraudulent under the section are invalid, void, and of no force; knowing fraudulent lien filing is a class B felony ((IV)(c), (V)). Good-faith officials are immune.
Note: index-only treatment is not the same as refusing recording or wiping a fraudulent deed off the record. See the New Hampshire state page.
Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

New Jersey — officials false-lien package + false-instrument DP Verified

Checked against P.L.2015, c.59 (njleg) and 2C:21-3 text on 2026-08-10. S848 official current text (848_I1.HTM) rechecked 2026-09-15 — still “Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel” / pre-filed for the 2026 session; not enacted.

Officials vs private: 2C:21-42 / 2A:37B are officials-scoped. Private owners get the thinner 2C:21-3(b) disorderly-persons offense — not a private NCCL petition.
  • UCC §12A:9-516(b)(8) refuse/remove is covered on the New Jersey state page.
  • 2C:21-42: 2d-degree crime — file/record a false lien/encumbrance/document against a public servant or federal officer/employee (or family/estate) on account of official duties.
  • 2A:37B: officials civil CoA — ≥ $2,000 or actual + injunction/fees/title-clearing (P.L.2015, c.59).
  • 2C:21-3(b): offering a false instrument for filing = disorderly persons offense (general).
  • S848 (2026) — county property-alert mandate — introduced/pending only. Not enacted.

Details: New Jersey state page. A Bergen County alert is linked on the New Jersey state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

New Mexico — Lien Protection Efficiency Act Verified

Checked against live NMSA §§48-1A-5 to 48-1A-9 on nmonesource.com (unannotated) on 2026-08-10.

New Mexico’s chapter 48 Article 1A is a full NCCL package — not a forged-deed affidavit:

  • Unenforceable (§48-1A-5): RP nonconsensual common-law liens shall not be recognized or enforceable.
  • No duty to accept (§48-1A-7): filing officers need not accept a claim of lien unless authorized by statute or court order; no duty to disclose NCCLs; NCCL in the record is not a title defect or marketability hit; immunity for refuse/non-disclose.
  • Owner show-cause (§48-1A-8): an owner may petition district court (may be ex parte); show cause 6–21 days after service; failure to appear → void ab initio + fees/damages.
  • Damages (§48-1A-9(C)): offering a forged/groundless/false NCCL → greater of actual damages or $5,000, plus costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.
Scope: NCCL-only. Official/employee duty-lien notice path is §48-1A-6 (government counsel). The statute’s definition of a nonconsensual common-law lien uses “or” among its three prongs, so meeting any one prong is enough.

Details: New Mexico state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

New York — cancel instrument of record Verified

Checked against N.Y. Real Prop. Law §329 via newyork.public.law → nysenate.gov on 2026-08-10.

N.Y. Real Prop. Law §329 is a general cancel-of-record action — not a fraud-specific or TX-style affidavit path:

  • An owner (or owner of rent to accrue) may sue to have a recorded instrument relating to the property declared void/invalid or canceled of record.
  • Carve-out: does not apply to instruments “required by law to be recorded.”
  • Expect ordinary quiet-title / cancel practice; NYC owners can still use ACRIS Notice of Recorded Document for discovery (alerts section below).

Employee-debtor UCC expungement under §9-518(d) stays on the New York state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

North Carolina — false-lien refusal Verified

Checked against live G.S. 14-118.6 on ncleg.gov on 2026-08-09 (also covered on the North Carolina state page).

N.C. Gen. Stat. §14-118.6 is a Class I felony for presenting a false lien or encumbrance against an owner or beneficial interest holder. Separately, a register of deeds who has a reasonable suspicion a purported lien/encumbrance is materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent may refuse recording, file a no-fee Notice of Denied Lien or Encumbrance Filing, and start a 10-business-day superior-court special-proceeding window. No timely special proceeding → the purported lien is null and void as a matter of law. Clerks of superior court have a parallel refusal path under (b1). Good-faith recording or refusal is generally immune. Article 9 UCC and Chapter 44A mechanics’ liens are carved out of the refusal subsections.

Details: North Carolina state page. County alert example: Mecklenburg Property Fraud Alert.

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

North Carolina — 2025 S423 / H431 Verified — pending

Checked against the live ncleg Bill Look-Up for S423 on 2026-09-15 (unchanged from 2026-08-30 / 2026-08-15 / 2026-08-14 / 2026-08-10 / 2026-08-09).

Not enacted law — tracker status only. 2025 Senate Bill 423 (companion themes in H431) addressed broader deed-/recording-fraud reforms. As of 2026-09-15 the official tracker’s last action remains Conf Com Appointed on 6/23/2025 after Failed Concur In H Com Sub. S423/H431 are not current law; live owner tools remain §14-118.6 above.

Official tracker: S423 Bill Look-Up.

North Dakota — NCCL refuse + notice of invalid lien Verified

Checked against official N.D. Cent. Code ch. 35-35 PDF on ndlegis.gov on 2026-08-10.

North Dakota’s chapter 35-35 package is NCCL-only — not a forged-deed affidavit. What the chapter provides:

  • May reject (§35-35-03(1)): any filing officer may reject a nonconsensual common-law lien.
  • Notice of Invalid Lien (§35-35-03(2)): if one was accepted, the filing officer shall accept a no-fee electronic notice from the person against whom it was filed (or their attorney); copy to lien claimant within one business day.
  • Show-cause (§§35-35-04 / 35-35-05): district-court petitions (may be ex parte) to declare the document an NCCL with no legal effect / void ab initio and order release.
  • Damages / crime (§§35-35-02 / 35-35-06): submitting an NCCL is a Class B misdemeanor; civil liability is the greater of $1,000 or actual damages, plus costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.

Uncodified Secretary of State “policy” UCC triggers are not statute. Details: North Dakota.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Ohio — recorder may refuse false instruments Verified

Checked against live Ohio Rev. Code §317.13 on 2026-08-04 (codes.ohio.gov; current through SB 94 / Oct. 24, 2024 amendments).

Live Ohio Rev. Code §317.13(B)(1) lets a county recorder refuse an instrument that is not required or authorized to be recorded, or when the recorder has reasonable cause to believe the instrument is materially false or fraudulent. Division (B) does not create a duty to inspect, evaluate, or investigate every instrument. A refused filer may sue in the court of common pleas to compel recording (§317.13(C)).

After something is already recorded, Ohio still relies on post-recording criminal/civil tools (§2921.03 intimidation; §2921.52 sham legal process) — see the Ohio state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-04)

Oklahoma — notice of fraudulent conveyance + title theft Verified

Checked against Oklahoma Statutes CompleteTitles PDFs (Titles 16 & 21) and enrolled SB 925 on 2026-08-09; effective November 1, 2025.

New law: Oklahoma's dedicated real-property fraudulent-conveyance tools came with SB 925 / Laws 2025, c. 109 (eff. Nov. 1, 2025).

Oklahoma does not offer a Texas-style owner affidavit that clears title by itself, and county clerks still lack a general power to refuse or delete ordinary deeds. What is verified:

  • Notice of fraudulent conveyance (16 O.S. §311): a title-theft victim may record a notice duly verified by oath describing the property. It is constructive notice that the conveyance is alleged to be fraudulent; the county clerk must forward a copy to the district attorney. The clerk may refuse the notice if it appears to be sham legal process or slander of title; wrongful refusal → mandamus under 16 O.S. §75.
  • Title theft (21 O.S. §1534): forging/falsifying real-property documents, impersonating the owner to take possession, or fraudulently transferring/encumbering title. Filing a real-property document of public record with intent to deceive is a felony (up to 3 years / $5,000); knowingly/willfully filing with intent to defraud is a felony (up to 10 years / $5,000). Courts must order restitution. County clerks must post crime-warning signage.

UCC still has no non-uniform pre-filing fraud refusal — see the Oklahoma state page. Largest-county alert example: Oklahoma County Property Alert in the site’s notification table.

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

Oregon — invalid encumbrance refuse + show-cause Verified

Checked against live ORS §§205.450–205.470 on oregonlegislature.gov on 2026-08-10.

Oregon’s chapter 205 tools are an invalid-claim-of-encumbrance package (NCCL-shaped) — available to private owners, not only officials:

  • Shall not accept (§205.455(1)): no person or county shall accept an invalid claim of encumbrance.
  • Owner show-cause (§205.460): an owner may petition circuit court (may be ex parte); hearing no earlier than 7 days; strike/release + fees. Unavailable against banks/credit unions/mortgage companies/insurers and against government officers/agencies.
  • Damages (§205.470): knowingly filing an invalid encumbrance → greater of $5,000 or actual damages, plus costs and reasonable attorney’s fees (trial + appeal).
  • Officials: duty-based encumbrances need a court order or are invalid; government counsel may file a notice of invalid encumbrance that clears title ((2)–(8)).
Scope: encumbrance / lien claims — a forged ownership deed may fall outside this package. §205.445 is not the relevant section.

Details: Oregon.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Pennsylvania — §8355 scope + pending HB 1406 Verified

Checked against live 42 Pa.C.S. §8355 and 18 Pa.C.S. §4911 on legis.state.pa.us on 2026-08-10. HB 1406 tracker on palegis.us rechecked 2026-09-15 — still laid on the Senate table (last action Oct. 29, 2025).

Scope: §8355 is not a fraudulent-lien civil pathway for public officials. Its live text is Rule 11–style certification of pleadings, motions and other papers — and the section is suspended by Pa.R.C.P. 1023.1(e). It is not a fraudulent-lien statute.
  • No dedicated verified real-property package — no NCCL chapter, no recorder refuse statute, no TX-style deed affidavit confirmed.
  • 18 Pa.C.S. §4911 (tampering with public records) is a general crime that can sometimes reach false recorded instruments (M2; F3 with intent to defraud/injure) — not an officials-only lien CoA.
  • HB 1406 (2025–26) — House passed 203–0; Senate Judiciary reported; last action Laid on the table (Senate Rule 9) on 2025-10-29. Cosponsorship memo is deed-fraud themed. Not enacted.

Details: Pennsylvania state page. County alerts (e.g. Philadelphia) remain in the notification table.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Rhode Island — real estate title fraud felony Verified

Checked against 2026-S 2715 Substitute A and 2026-H 7551 as amended on 2026-08-07; enactment date rechecked 2026-10-13 against the official public laws (P.L. 2026, ch. 54 and ch. 55, each “Enacted 06/10/2026”).

Effective dates: the title-fraud package took effect upon passage (enacted June 10, 2026) — not July 1, 2026. July 1 is the separate UCC refusal/affidavit effective date on Rhode Island’s state page.

R.I. Gen. Laws §11-18-35 (added by 2026-S 2715A / 2026-H 7551aa) creates the offense of real estate title fraud when a person, with intent to defraud, knowingly:

  • Offers for recording or records a deed with a forged transferor signature;
  • Offers for recording or records a fraudulently created instrument or title;
  • Offers for recording or records a fraudulent mortgage, lien, or instrument claiming an interest in real estate;
  • Falsely encumbers another’s real estate; or
  • Attempts or transfers an interest/encumbrance by known forgery or false document.
  • Crime: first offense — felony, up to 10 years and/or $50,000; pattern — up to 20 years and/or $100,000, plus restitution (§11-18-35(f)).
  • Civil: victim-owners may sue for the greater of actual damages or $5,000, plus costs and reasonable attorney’s fees (§11-18-35(g)).
  • Recorder tools (from Sept. 1, 2027): remote e-filings need sufficient ID unless from a “trusted submitter” (title insurer/agent, RI-licensed attorney, or regulated financial institution); recorders may temporarily delay, report, or notify notaries about “suspicious documents.” In-person filings are carved out of the remote-ID rule.
  • Alerts (by Jan. 1, 2028): every municipality must offer a free property-alert system notifying enrolled owners within 10 business days of a recording (§11-18-36).

Land records are municipal in Rhode Island — see the Rhode Island state page (also covers the separate UCC tools).

Citations (checked 2026-08-07)
  • 2026-S 2715 Substitute A — S2715A.pdf
  • 2026-H 7551 as amended — H7551aa.pdf
  • P.L. 2026, ch. 55 (S 2715 Sub A) — law26055; P.L. 2026, ch. 54 (H 7551 as amended) — law26054 (both “Enacted 06/10/2026”; checked 2026-10-13)
  • General Assembly press release (posted June 18, 2026) — rilegislature.gov

South Carolina — refuse or remove sham filings Verified

Checked against live S.C. Code §30-9-30 on scstatehouse.gov on 2026-08-09. See also the South Carolina state page.

S.C. Code §30-9-30(B) lets a clerk of court or register of deeds refuse a conveyance, mortgage, judgment, lien, contract, or other document on a reasonable belief it is materially false or fraudulent or sham legal process, and remove an already-filed document after 30 days’ written notice to the return address on the filing. The presenter/filer has 30 days to sue to compel acceptance or block removal. Good-faith improper refusal or removal does not create damages liability. A separate pathway for present/former government officials is §30-9-35.

State-page context (including strong UCC refusal under §36-9-516(b)): South Carolina.

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

South Carolina — H.4724 property-alert bill Verified — pending

Checked against the live scstatehouse H.4724 status sheet on 2026-09-15 (unchanged last bill action from 2026-08-30 / 2026-08-15 / 2026-08-14 / 2026-08-10 / 2026-08-09).

Not enacted law — tracker status only. H.4724 (126th Session) would add a proposed §30-5-25 statewide property recording notification systems duty, with a draft deadline of July 1, 2027. Last bill action remains House Judiciary (introduced/read first time Jan. 13, 2026; Duncan added as sponsor Feb. 11, 2026). The 2026 regular session adjourned sine die on May 14, 2026 (Governor’s Executive Order 2026-09, reprinted in the House Journal for May 15, 2026); an extra session was then called for a General Appropriations Act and congressional maps. H.4724 shows no actions after Feb. 11. No statewide alert mandate exists today; county programs (e.g. Greenville FraudSleuth) remain optional local tools.

Official bill page: H.4724.

South Dakota — refuse counterfeit liens Verified

Checked against live SDLRC API text for §§7-9-19, 22-11-28, 22-11-28.1, 22-11-29, and 20-9-33 on 2026-08-10.

South Dakota’s land tool is a counterfeit-lien package — NCCL-shaped, not a forged-deed affidavit:

  • Register may refuse (§7-9-19): may refuse a document the law does not require/authorize to be recorded, or any document the register has reasonable cause to believe is a counterfeit lien as defined in §22-11-29.
  • Definition (§22-11-29): a counterfeit lien is not provided for by a specific state/federal statute, does not depend on the owner’s consent, and is not an equitable/constructive lien imposed by a recognized court.
  • Criminal (§22-11-28 / §22-11-28.1): offering a counterfeit lien knowing/having reason to know = Class 1 misdemeanor (second offense Class 6 felony); offering a false/forged instrument for filing/recording = Class 6 felony.
  • Civil (§20-9-33): a §22-11-28 violator is liable for injury/loss plus reasonable attorney’s fees and costs (not the exclusive remedy).

Details: South Dakota state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Tennessee — Class E false lien + officials register path Verified

Checked against live Tenn. Code §39-17-117 on codes.findlaw.com and Public Chapter 913 / §66-21-105 on 2026-08-10.

Tennessee has no TX-style owner deed affidavit. Private owners mainly get a criminal path; public officials get a register contest tool:

  • Class E felony (§39-17-117): knowingly prepare/sign/file a lien or other document intending to encumber RP/PP with no reasonable basis or legal cause. On conviction, a circuit court may order removal, declare the document void, and clear any cloud. Carve-outs for attorneys, regulated financial institutions, title insurers/agents, and compliant real-estate licensees in ordinary course ((c)).
  • Officials-only register affidavit (§66-21-105): notarized contest → index “Contested - Under Review”; filer has 20 business days to file a chancery action (the statute requires a cost bond) or the official may file a certification that serves as a release. Broad FI/GSE carve-outs in (k).
Note: §39-17-117 is not a private civil cause of action. §66-21-108 is repealed. Parallel UCC officials tool remains §47-9-513(e) on the state page.

Details: Tennessee.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Texas — owner’s affidavit challenge Verified

Checked against live Texas statutes on 2026-08-01.

Texas has a dedicated statutory path (SB 1734, effective September 1, 2025) for challenging a recorded instrument that purports to convey title or an interest — not the same as its older fraudulent-lien motion under Gov’t Code §51.903. Details also appear on the Texas state page.

  1. 1The process starts when an owner records an affidavit regarding the purported conveyance, plus a certificate of mailing, in the county real-property records (Tex. Prop. Code §5.0206).
  2. 2Copies go to the grantor and grantee of the purported conveyance by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.
  3. 3The grantor or grantee has 120 days from the certificate-of-mailing filing date to record a controverting affidavit.
  4. 4If none is filed in time, the owner may petition the district court under Tex. Gov’t Code §51.9035. The court’s review may be made ex parte without delay or notice of any kind. A criminal conviction tied to the instrument is a separate way into the same §51.9035 petition: the petition may attach proof of that conviction instead of an uncontroverted §5.0206 affidavit package, without waiting out the 120-day affidavit process.
  5. 5A recorded finding that the instrument does not convey title may be relied on by a bona fide purchaser or mortgagee for value (Tex. Prop. Code §5.0207).
No downloadable form from LienGuardAI. The statute itself contains suggested affidavit, certificate, and petition wording. This is a district-court process after the recording steps — not a same-day clerk “delete” button.
Citations (checked 2026-08-01)

Utah — statewide recording notice (Property Watch) Verified

Checked against the live Utah Code (§17-71-302) and the county program pages on 2026-10-13.

No Texas-style owner affidavit was identified for Utah. What this section describes is the statewide opt-in recording notice:

  • Utah Code §17-71-302(1)(b) requires that beginning January 1, 2025 each county recorder maintain a system so a property owner can elect electronic notice when the recorder records a deed or mortgage (as defined in §70D-1-102) on the owner’s real property, and send that notice within 30 days of recording. The duty was added by SB 165 (2024) as §17-21-6(1)(m); Utah’s recodification of Title 17 moved it to §17-71-302.
  • On request, a recorder may send the notice by a means other than electronic (§17-71-302(2)). The duty applies only to real property for which the county treasurer provides a tax notice under §59-2-1317 (§17-71-302(3)).
  • County programs often brand this as “Property Watch.” Largest-county example: Salt Lake County, which offers it free of charge. Davis County’s signup page offers free email alerts within 30 days when a deed or mortgage is recorded against a registered property.

Separate wrongful-lien tools under Title 38, Chapter 9 (recorder refusal and a court petition to nullify) are on the Utah state page; this hub section is scoped to the notification mandate.

Citations (checked 2026-10-13)
  • Utah Code §17-71-302 — le.utah.gov (current version effective May 6, 2026; amended by Chapter 105, 2026 General Session)
  • S.B. 165 (2024), Title Recording Notice Requirements Amendments — enrolled copy (added the duty to former §17-21-6; notice duty begins 2025-01-01; bill effective 2024-05-01)
  • Salt Lake County Property Watch — saltlakecounty.gov
  • Davis County Property Watch — daviscountyutah.gov

Vermont — deed forgery + uttering felonies Verified

Checked against live 13 V.S.A. §§1801 / 1802 on legislature.vermont.gov on 2026-08-10.

  • 13 V.S.A. §1801: forging a deed, muniment of title, public record, etc., with intent to injure/defraud → ≤10 years and/or ≤$1,000.
  • §1802: uttering a forged deed/instrument from §1801 as true, knowing it false → same.
  • Not applicable: 27 V.S.A. §464 (mortgagee payoff/discharge). §542 (“fraudulent deeds”) is not title-theft cleanup — it is debt-avoidance against creditors.
  • No NCCL petition or town-clerk fraud refuse confirmed. 2026 H.645 (identity verification / secure real-property transactors) is not enacted — last recorded action remains first-reading referral to House Government Operations (Jan. 13, 2026); J.R.S. 56 (Act R-375), adopted by Senate and House on May 29, 2026, directed sine die adjournment of the General Assembly on May 29 or 30, 2026.

See the Vermont state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10; H.645 / J.R.S. 56 rechecked 2026-08-30)

Virginia — false-lien felony + VADeed Alert Verified

Checked against live Va. Code §18.2-213.2 on 2026-08-09; §17.1-258.3:1 (both effective-date versions) rechecked on law.lis.virginia.gov on 2026-08-30.

  • False lien/encumbrance (§18.2-213.2): maliciously filing a lien or encumbrance in a public record against another’s real or personal property, knowing it is false, is a Class 5 felony. The conviction order (or a separate order) directs the clerk to release the filing, which is deemed invalid and treated as never filed. Not a civil petition-to-strike; §55.1-339 is ordinary deed-of-trust release, not a fraud remedy.
  • VADeed Alert (portal live now): OES free statewide signup at risweb.vacourts.gov/VADeedAlert — clerk-by-clerk rollout still uneven.
Alert mandate not yet effective: the §17.1-258.3:1 rewrite that requires clerks with e-filing land-records systems to offer a free property-alert notification system (and owner education) takes effect July 1, 2027. Today’s portal is real; the statewide statutory mandate is not yet current law.

Details: Virginia state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

Washington — NCCL chapter + false-instrument felony Verified

Checked against live RCW ch. 60.70 and RCW 40.16.030 on app.leg.wa.gov on 2026-08-10.

Washington’s land package pairs a statutory NCCL chapter with a broader false-instrument felony:

  • NCCL chapter (RCW 60.70): RP NCCLs unenforceable; no duty to accept unauthorized common-law liens; no general duty to reject except official/employee duty liens must not be accepted without a court order; government-attorney notice-of-invalid-lien path; immunity; owner superior-court show-cause strike (§60.70.060 — may be ex parte; 6–21 days).
  • False instrument (RCW 40.16.030): knowingly procure/offer a false or forged instrument for filing/recording = class C felony (≤5 years and/or ≤$5,000) — useful for forged deeds outside NCCL scope.
  • UCC: fraud/NCCL refuse grounds live in WAC 308-391-202, not RCW 62A.9A-516.

Details: Washington.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

West Virginia — NCCL nullity + no-fee circuit review Verified

Checked against live W. Va. Code §§38-16-401 / 38-16-403 and §61-5-27 on code.wvlegislature.gov on 2026-08-10.

West Virginia’s Article 16 package is NCCL-scoped — not a forged-deed affidavit:

  • Nullity / no-duty (§§38-16-301 / 302): filing an NCCL claim is a nullity; clerks have no duty to accept and no duty to reject.
  • Clerk notice (§38-16-401): on a reasonable good-faith belief a document is a fraudulent NCCL, the clerk shall give written notice within 2 business days.
  • Owner motion (§38-16-403): verified motion in circuit court; judge may rule ex parte on documents alone; no filing fee; findings indexed with the original record class.
  • Officials (§61-5-27): recorder may refuse a clearly fraudulent lien/legal process against a public official/employee; government attorney may record a no-fee notice that invalidates and removes a recorded one (felony 1–10 yrs / ≤$2,000 + civil).

UCC companion §46-9-516(b)(4)/516a stays on the West Virginia state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Wisconsin — register may not record for fraud Verified

Checked against 2025 Wis. Act 234 PDF and live Wis. Stat. §59.43(2s) text on docs.legis.wisconsin.gov on 2026-08-09.

2025 Wisconsin Act 234 (enacted Apr. 8, 2026; published Apr. 9, 2026) took effect the day after publication — April 10, 2026 — so these tools are current law on this check date:

  • Fraudulent-purpose refusal (Wis. Stat. §59.43(2s)(e)): the register of deeds may not record a document the register reasonably believes is being recorded for a fraudulent or other unlawful purpose. Act 234 defines “document” to include a deed, mortgage, instrument, or writing (§59.43(1b)). Formatting/description refusals in (2s)(a)–(d) are separate and subject to a substantial-compliance override in (f); paragraph (e) is not listed under that override.
  • Forged conveyance recording (Wis. Stat. §946.77): knowingly providing a forged document relating to a conveyance (as defined in §77.21(1)) to a register for recording is a Class I felony.
  • After recording: civil/criminal slander of title under §706.13 / §943.60 remain on the state page.

Not a Texas-style owner affidavit. UCC still has no non-uniform pre-filing fraud refusal — see Wisconsin.

Citations (checked 2026-08-09)

Wyoming — private false-lien strike petition Verified

Checked against live Wyo. Stat. §29-1-601 in the Title 29 PDF on wyoleg.gov on 2026-08-10. SF0011 tracker rechecked 2026-08-30 — last action still H COW:H Did not consider for COW (02/28/2025).

Private vs officials: private owners use §29-1-601(b). Subsections (c) (misdemeanor) and (d) (affidavit) are officials-scoped; subsection (b) is not.
  • (a): official-duty liens vs public officials/employees invalid without court order or authorizing statute.
  • (b) petition: any person whose real/personal property is subject to a recorded claim of lien may petition district court (filing fee set by statute) to strike a lien that is invalid under (a), forged, or that the claimant knew was groundless / materially false → strike/release + $1,000 or actual (whichever greater) + costs/fees.
  • (c)/(d): misdemeanor for harassing filings meant to intimidate officials; officials may record an affidavit under (d).
  • Clerks: no county-clerk refuse/remove power for private liens was confirmed. (Tuttle v. Lee, 2018 WY 104, holds only that clerks must record properly certified federal tax lien notices and cannot judge their validity.)
  • SF0011 (2025) — fraudulent documents to wrongfully possess property — failed; not current law.

Details: Wyoming state page.

Citations (checked 2026-08-10)

Get notified when something records

Alerts don’t stop a fraudulent recording by themselves, but they can shrink the gap between filing and discovery. Programs LienGuardAI highlights:

  • Utah (statewide mandate) — every county recorder must offer opt-in electronic notice for deeds/mortgages under §17-71-302(1)(b) (formerly §17-21-6(1)(m); duty began Jan. 1, 2025). Salt Lake Property Watch →
  • Illinois (statewide mandate) — every county must maintain a property fraud alert system under 55 ILCS 5/3-5010.10 (Public Act 104-0382, eff. Jan. 1, 2026). Cook County signup →
  • Rhode Island (statewide mandate by 2028) — every municipality must offer a free property-alert system under §11-18-36 not later than Jan. 1, 2028. Interim town example: West Warwick →
  • Massachusetts (multi-registry portal) — free SoS-hosted Consumer Notification Service → (participating registries; not a statute mandate).
  • Georgia (statewide portal) — one FANS signup covers every county. FANS signup →
  • Hawaii (statewide portal) — central Bureau of Conveyances Property Watch. Property Watch →
  • Virginia (statewide portal; mandate 2027) — VADeed Alert is live now; statutory clerk mandate under §17.1-258.3:1 begins July 1, 2027. VADeed Alert →
  • New York City — Notice of Recorded Document (ACRIS). ACRIS signup → · DOF overview →
  • Los Angeles County — Enhanced Homeowner Notification Program. Official LA County page →

Many other states have a free county or statewide alert — often only in the largest county. Most entries in the site’s notification table were live-form verified on 2026-08-01; Arizona (Maricopa) and Montana (Gallatin) remain reported because their signup forms could not be independently completed. Browse the table on the Fraud alerts by state page, or open your state page and look for “Get notified before it happens.”

What title insurance actually does General — not statute-badged

Short version: title insurance is financial protection for covered title problems. It does not automatically restore your ownership or clear a fraudulent deed off the public record.
  • If a covered loss happens, a policy may pay a claim — you (or counsel / the insurer) still typically need a court process to fix the record.
  • Coverage is usually capped at the policy amount from purchase or refinance, not today’s market value.
  • Deed-fraud-specific protection is often a separate endorsement (industry materials sometimes refer to forms in the ALTA family) — ask your title company what your policy includes. LienGuardAI is not treating a specific endorsement number as a verified statute.
  • Prior knowledge matters in insurance and good-faith purchaser doctrine: if you knew, or reasonably should have known from the public record, about a defect, coverage or BFP protections can be limited or lost. Read your policy; this is general framing, not a citation to a single nationwide statute.

Always confirm against your own policy or title company. This section is general information and carries no badge.

Secondary framing (not legal authority)

A March 12, 2026 New York Law Journal article, “Sovereign Citizen Deed Fraud Threatens Property Owners,” discusses the pattern and mentions tools such as California’s SB 255 and NYC’s notification program. LienGuardAI treats it as secondary context only — statute claims on this page rest on the official sources listed below, not on that article. Fetched/noted 2026-08-01.

Limits

These summaries describe the tools confirmed on each section's check date. Alert programs and new administrative processes often roll out county by county, so a statewide law does not mean every county offers the service yet. Pending bills are not law. Each state page notes the limits specific to that state. Title-insurance terms vary by policy and are described here only in general.

Sources & check dates

ItemPrimary sourceCheckedStatus
Tex. Prop. Code §§5.0206–5.0207 Texas statutes — Property Code ch. 5 2026-08-01 Verified
Tex. Gov’t Code §51.9035 Texas statutes — Government Code ch. 51 2026-08-01 Verified — conviction is a separate evidentiary gateway (not post-120-day only); clarified 2026-08-01
Cal. Gov’t Code §27297.7 / SB 255 LegInfo code; chaptered SB 255 2026-08-01 Verified
Fla. Stat. §817.535 2025 Florida Statutes 2026-08-04 Verified — criminal + civil court path (not TX-style affidavit)
Ariz. Rev. Stat. §33-420 azleg.gov ARS 2026-09-15 Verified — special action / damages / 20-day written request; class 5 felony on live page
Arizona SB 1479 companions (Ch. 31) §11-472; §11-544; §41-254; Chapter PDF 2026-09-15 Verified — current on live ARS (photo ID; thumbprint; assessor notice system on or before 2027-01-01, not a live statewide assessor alert today)
California AB 501 (Papan) LegInfo status; history; chaptered text 2026-10-13 Verified — enacted, not yet in effect (approved by the Governor 2026-09-27; Chapter 505, Statutes of 2026; non-urgency, so it takes effect 2027-01-01). Until then live CCP §765.040 still states $5,000.
55 ILCS 5/3-5010.5 / .10 / .11 (P.A. 104-0382) Public Act 104-0382 2026-08-04 Verified — effective 1/1/2026
NRS 247.145 / 205.395 NRS 247; NRS 205 2026-08-04 Verified — recorder denial + false-title felony/civil
Ohio Rev. Code §317.13 codes.ohio.gov 2026-08-04 Verified — county recorder refusal for real property
C.R.S. §38-35-201–204 colorado.public.law 2026-08-04 Verified — spurious document reject + show-cause
Utah Code §17-71-302(1)(b) (formerly §17-21-6(1)(m), SB 165) le.utah.gov; SB 165 enrolled (2024); county Property Watch pages 2026-10-13 Verified — statewide opt-in notice duty from 2025-01-01 (renumbered in Utah’s Title 17 recodification)
R.I. Gen. Laws §§11-18-35 / 11-18-36 S2715A; H7551aa 2026-08-07 Verified — upon passage (enacted 2026-06-10, P.L. 2026, ch. 54 / 55; rechecked 2026-10-13), not July 1
Okla. Stat. tit. 16 §311 / tit. 21 §1534 (SB 925) Title 16 PDF; Title 21 PDF; SB925 ENR 2026-08-09 Verified — notice of fraudulent conveyance + title-theft felonies; eff. 2025-11-01
N.C. Gen. Stat. §14-118.6 ncleg.gov 2026-08-09 Verified — Class I felony + register refusal / Notice of Denied Lien / 10-business-day special proceeding
North Carolina S423 status ncleg Bill Look-Up 2026-09-15 Verified — pending (Conf Com Appointed 6/23/2025 after failed concur; not enacted; unchanged)
S.C. Code §30-9-30(B) scstatehouse.gov 2026-08-09 Verified — refuse or remove materially false/fraudulent/sham filings (30-day notice)
South Carolina H.4724 status H.4724 2026-09-15 Verified — pending (House Judiciary; last action 2/11/2026; regular session sine die 2026-05-14 without passage; extra session called for budget/maps; not enacted)
Ga. Code §16-10-20.1 / §44-14-320 + FANS Georgia state-page citations; fans.gsccca.org 2026-08-09 Not separately re-checked against statute text — criminal/cancel tools + statewide FANS portal
Wis. Stat. §59.43(2s)(e) / §946.77 (Act 234) Act 234 PDF; live §59.43(2s) / §946.77 hosts 2026-08-09 Verified — current law (eff. 2026-04-10); register fraud refusal + Class I forged-conveyance felony
Ala. Code §13A-9-12(e) Code of Alabama (live) 2026-10-03 Verified — judge-of-probate nullify/expunge petition (14/14/28-day clock), as amended by SB 292 eff. 2026-10-01
Alabama SB 292 (Property Protection Act of 2026) Enrolled PDF 2026-10-03 Verified — in effect since October 1, 2026 (Act 2026-536); ASC void orders + §13A-9-12/22/23 amendments + optional §12-13-55 alerts
N.H. Rev. Stat. §478:42 gencourt.state.nh.us 2026-08-09 Verified — fraudulent-lien index-only + void + class B felony (not deed refusal)
Kan. Stat. §58-4301 ksrevisor.gov 2026-08-09 Verified — expedited ex parte judicial review to nullify fraudulent lien/claim
Mo. Rev. Stat. §§428.110 / 428.120 §428.110; §428.120 2026-08-09 Verified — NCCL reject + owner show-cause nullify (not §428.115)
MCL §§565.25 / 600.2907a §565.25 PDF; §600.2907a PDF 2026-08-09 Verified — harassing encumbrance → costs + damages + exemplary + felony (not treble)
Iowa Code §575.1 legis.iowa.gov PDF 2026-08-09 Verified — court validation before nonstatutory/common-law/equitable liens record
Mont. Code §§30-9A-420 / 27-1-1505 §30-9A-420; §27-1-1505 2026-08-09 Verified — §30-9A-420 is a UCC filing-officer tool; the land-records NCCL path is §27-1-1505
Haw. Rev. Stat. §§507D-5 / 507D-7 + Property Watch §507D-5; §507D-7; Property Watch portal 2026-08-15 Verified — NCCL court-order gate + expunge/sanctions
Minn. Stat. §514.99 revisor.mn.gov 2026-08-09 Verified — NCCL no-duty gate + release petition + ≥$5k penalties
Va. Code §§18.2-213.2 / 17.1-258.3:1 + VADeed Alert §18.2-213.2; §17.1-258.3:1 2026-08-09; §17.1-258.3:1 recheck 2026-08-30 Verified — Class 5 felony + never-filed release; alert portal live; mandate still Effective July 1, 2027
Neb. Rev. Stat. §§52-1903 / 52-1904 §52-1903; §52-1904 2026-08-09 Verified — mandatory NCCL refuse + court-order strike
Conn. Gen. Stat. §49-51 (ch. 847) cga.ct.gov chapter 847 2026-08-09 Verified — §49-51 is in ch. 847 (not §49-13 in ch. 846)
S.D. Codified Laws §§7-9-19 / 22-11-28 / 22-11-28.1 / 20-9-33 §7-9-19; §22-11-28; §22-11-28.1; §20-9-33 2026-08-10 Verified — register may refuse counterfeit lien; criminal + civil
Ark. Code §5-37-226 codes.findlaw.com 2026-08-10 Verified — (c) treble for any owner; Class C felony only for listed official-duty victims
N.Y. Real Prop. Law §329 nysenate.gov 2026-08-10 Verified — general cancel-of-record; excludes instruments required by law to be recorded
N.D. Cent. Code ch. 35-35 ndlegis.gov PDF 2026-08-10 Verified — NCCL refuse + Notice of Invalid Lien + show-cause + ≥$1k
NMSA §§48-1A-5–48-1A-9 nmonesource.com 2026-08-10 Verified — NCCL no-duty + §48-1A-8 owner show-cause petition + ≥$5k
Tenn. Code §§39-17-117 / 66-21-105 §39-17-117; PC 913 PDF 2026-08-10 Verified — Class E + conviction cleanup; officials-only register affidavit (§66-21-108 is repealed)
Ky. Rev. Stat. §434.155 (+ SB 194 status) §434.155; SB 194 2026-08-10; SB 194 recheck 2026-08-30 Verified — illegal-lien felony ladder; SB 194 last action still to Judiciary (S) 02/20/2025; not enacted
RCW ch. 60.70 / 40.16.030 ch. 60.70; §40.16.030 2026-08-10 Verified — NCCL package + false-instrument class C felony
W. Va. Code §§38-16-401 / 403 / 61-5-27 §38-16-403; §61-5-27 2026-08-10 Verified — NCCL clerk notice + no-fee ex parte circuit review; officials refuse/notice
ORS §§205.450–205.470 oregonlegislature.gov 2026-08-10 Verified — shall-not-accept + private show-cause + ≥$5k (not officials-only)
17-A M.R.S. §706-A (+ §90-F SoS-only) §706-A; §90-F 2026-08-10 Verified — Class D false filing of deed/mortgage; §90-F not a registry tool
Pa. §8355 / §4911 + HB 1406 §8355; HB 1406 2026-08-10; HB 1406 tracker 2026-09-15 Verified — §8355 is pleading certification (suspended), not a lien CoA; HB 1406 still tabled (last action Oct. 29, 2025)
Idaho Code §§45-811 / 18-3203 §45-811; §18-3203 2026-08-10 Verified — NCCL petition ≥$5k after demand; forged-instrument felony
Wyo. Stat. §29-1-601 (+ SF0011) Title 29 PDF; SF0011 2026-08-10; SF0011 tracker 2026-08-30 Verified — private (b) strike ≥$1k; (c)/(d) officials-scoped; SF0011 last action still H COW did not consider (02/28/2025)
Md. Real Prop. §§3-104.2 / 14-617(c) §3-104.2; §14-617 2026-08-10 Verified — false-info deed misdemeanor ≤$500 + quiet-title fee-shift
La. Rev. Stat. §§14:133 / 14:133.6 §14:133; §14:133.6 2026-08-10 Verified — general false public records + officials-only false lien
Alaska Stat. §§09.45.161–.169 / 11.46.550–.560 akleg.gov; SB 195 enacting text 2026-08-10 Verified — private NCCL release + damages; officials notice
11 Del. C. §§861 / 877 delcode.delaware.gov 2026-08-10 Verified — false-instrument misdemeanor + deed-forgery class G felony; no RP civil petition
Miss. Code §§97-7-73 / 97-21-63 (+ SB 2751) §97-7-73; SB 2751 2026-08-10; SB 2751 XML 2026-08-30 Reprint-checked; official-text check pending — deed forgery + officials false lien; SB 2751 still Dead (Died In Committee 2026-02-03)
N.J.S.A. 2C:21-42 / 2A:37B / 2C:21-3 (+ S848) P.L.2015 c.59; S848 2026-08-10; S848 intro text 2026-09-15 Verified — officials package + DP false instrument; S848 official current text still 848_I1 intro (Pending Technical Review); not enacted
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 267 §§1 / 5 (+ ch. 36 §12A/§24) §1; §5 2026-08-10 Verified — deed forgery/uttering; §24 is federal-lien recording
13 V.S.A. §§1801 / 1802 §1801; §1802 2026-08-10 Verified — deed forgery/uttering
Vermont H.645 / J.R.S. 56 (Act R-375) H.645 status; J.R.S. 56 / Act R-375 2026-08-30 Verified — not enacted (H.645 last recorded action still 2026-01-13 first-reading referral; no act information; J.R.S. 56 / Act R-375 still adopted by Senate and House 2026-05-29)
D.C. Code §§22-3241 / 3242 / 1402 §3241; §3242 2026-08-10 Verified — forgery ladder + narrow §1402; §42-1207 is lis pendens
Indiana SB 253 / HB 1125 status IGA Notices (sine die); 2026 Digest of Enactments; Enrolled Act to PL table; bill details 2026-08-30 Verified — not enacted (bill-details last actions still first-reading referrals: SB 253 Local Government 01/08/2026; HB 1125 Judiciary 01/05/2026). Digest of Enactments and enrolled-act table read 2026-08-15; later fetches returned a JavaScript page.
NYC Notice of Recorded Document / deed-fraud protection ACRIS NRD signup; DOF overview 2026-08-01 Program confirmed live (old deed-fraud.page redirects)
LA County homeowner notification dcba.lacounty.gov 2026-08-01 Program page confirmed live

Methodology: about & methodology.