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Cowlitz County auditor launches free property-record alerts to guard against deed fraud
Summary
Cowlitz County Auditor Carolyn Fundings announced a free recording-notification service that emails property‑record changes to registered names or parcel numbers; the system is intended to give owners early warning though it cannot prevent fraud.
Cowlitz County Auditor Carolyn Fundings announced a free recording‑notification service on Tuesday that will email property owners when changes are recorded to county property records.
Fundings said the service, developed with county IT staff, lets residents register names or parcel numbers and receive an email with a link to view any newly recorded document that matches their criteria. "I'm excited to announce the launch of a new service designed to protect residents against deed fraud," Fundings said.
The service is intended as an early warning, Fundings said, not a prevention tool. She told commissioners she is not aware of any deed‑fraud cases in Cowlitz County but noted that forged documents and transfers are rising nationwide. "This is an extra layer of security and peace of mind," Fundings said.
Fundings described how to sign up: visit the auditor's office website recording page, create an account, and register either name variations or parcel numbers to monitor. The notification system sends email only, and users can cancel or modify registrations at any time. Fundings showed a screenshot of her registration and explained that the alert will include a link to view the recorded document.
The auditor's office said the county IT team created the capability without charging the county; Fundings contrasted that with a vendor module she said would have cost about $40,000 per year. She recommended that residents also regularly review credit reports and consider title insurance, noting not all title policies cover documents forged after issuance. If a recording appears to be fraudulent, Fundings said residents should contact law enforcement; she said reversing a recorded deed can be expensive and, in other counties, has cost about $40,000 in court fees.
The auditor's office will place flyers with sign‑up information on the commissioners' desk and made the registration page available immediately. The service is email‑only and free to sign up, Fundings said.
