Deed Fraud

Imagine waking up one morning to find out that, on paper, you don’t even own your own house anymore.

Sounds impossible, right? Unfortunately, deed fraud makes this nightmare a reality for too many Texas homeowners and landowners.  Scammers file fake property deeds in the county property records, and families only find out when it’s almost too late.

But here’s the good news: new Texas laws, Texas Government Code Section 51.9035 and Texas Property Code Section 5.0206, are stepping in to protect you.

For years, criminals have taken advantage of property owners by filing fraudulent deeds. Once that’s done, they can try to sell the house or take loans against it, leaving the true owner stuck in a mess. Fixing it used to take a lot of time and money.

Now, the new Texas laws give property owners a stronger way to fight back. This law lets you challenge and stop fraudulent deeds much earlier by filing an Owner’s Affidavit in the property records, which puts the public on notice that the fraudulent deed is void. Your home is one of your biggest investments. This new law helps make sure it stays in the right hands, yours.

 Here’s what you can do to stay safe:

•     Check your county’s property and appraisal district sites at least once a year.

•     Don’t ignore strange mail or notices about your home.

•    If something doesn’t look right, having an attorney act quickly could save your home.

At SJ Smith Law PLLC, we know how devastating deed fraud can be. If you’re worried about your property, or just want peace of mind, we’ll walk you through your options and help protect what you’ve worked hard to build.