New legislation seeks to make deed theft a crime in New York State

New legislation has been introduced to strengthen protections and remedies for victims of deed theft and to enable the prosecution of this scam.

Deed theft occurs when someone takes the title, or deed, to another person”™s home without the homeowner”™s knowledge or approval. According to the Office of Attorney General Letitia James, the most common act of deed theft involves forged documents filed with a county clerk”™s office or scams where homeowners are tricked into unknowingly signing over their homes to a fraudster ”“ in both cases, the homeowner is often evicted and the property is sold by the miscreants at a significant profit.

James”™ office added this scheme has disproportionately impacted elderly homeowners and Black and Hispanic homeowners in neighborhoods undergoing gentrification. Deed theft is not a crime under New York state law, and James joined with State Senator Brian Kavanagh, State Senator Zellnor Myrie, and Assemblymember Helene Weinstein in announcing legislation designed to create new criminal and civil legal provisions to increase enforcement opportunities.

“No one”™s home should be stolen by a scammer without warning or reason,” said James. “This legislation will provide real and necessary changes to our civil and criminal laws to stop the perpetrators of these crimes and provide the protections and remedies needed to keep people in their homes.”