Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Fraud topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House debate fails to advance deed-fraud bill that would restrict who prepares deeds
Summary
A bill intended to reduce deed fraud by limiting who may prepare deeds and requiring affidavits drew questions about electronic filings and family fraud; sponsors said it protects homeowners but the motion to pass did not secure the required majority and was tabled.
Representative Gantt sponsored legislation aimed at preventing deed fraud by narrowing who may prepare deeds and by requiring a notarized affidavit that identifies the preparer and states they are legally authorized to prepare the document.
Gantt told members the bill "provides consumer protection and is designed to safeguard Tennessee families from deed fraud," arguing that deeds prepared only by licensed attorneys, title agents, title insurance companies or the property owner (with an affidavit) would give county registers tools to screen fraudulent filings. "This simple safeguard gives our county registers a powerful tool to screen out fraudulent and unauthorized filings before they can harm our citizens," he said.
Members asked whether the bill covered electronic filings and how it would address quick-claim deed schemes. Gantt said the proposal does not change the mechanics of electronic processing but narrows who may process a change request and preserves exceptions for government or financial institution transactions. Members from counties with high quick-claim deed theft raised the need for additional tightening and stronger penalties.
After amendment consideration the motion to pass did not reach the required threshold and the question was tabled by the clerk; the bill did not clear final passage on that recorded vote.
