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Texas Tackles Deed Fraud

Adam Mohrbacher — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:48:34 +0000

Exciting legislative developments in the Lone Star State offer new tools to prosecutors and stronger protections for property owners.

By Adam Mohrbacher

For most homeowners, a deed represents safety, stability, and legacy. Deed fraud turns that certainty upside down. With just a handful of fraudulent filings, criminals can trigger months—sometimes years—of financial and legal turmoil for unsuspecting owners. This crime is growing rapidly and poses a serious threat to the real estate and title industries, often leaving lasting damage in its wake. “Deed fraud is a very real threat,” said Rodney Anderson, EVP and �ǿմ�ý Agency Manager at �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý. “It’s about someone’s home, their family’s legacy, and sometimes their entire life’s savings. That’s why the legislation recently passed by the Texas Legislature—shaped with critical input from organizations like the Texas Land Title Association (TLTA)—is so important.”

Anderson is referring in part to Senate Bill 16 (SB 16), which significantly strengthens prosecutors’ ability to pursue deed fraud cases. SB 16 is a cornerstone of a broader legislative package designed to attack deed fraud from multiple angles. Led by State Senator Royce West, the effort positions Texas as a national leader in confronting this urgent and complex issue. “Together, these bills create the strongest state-level protections against deed fraud and title theft anywhere in the country,” Senator West said upon their signing.

An Easy Crime with Devastating Consequences

Legislative action was necessary because deed fraud is not only destructive. It is also often disturbingly easy to commit. One scheme fraudsters use involves falsified documents transferring ownership into their name or an entity they control. They frequently target raw land, vacant properties, and deceased or elderly property owners. Once the fraudulent conveyance is recorded, they “sell” the property, disappearing long before the real owner realizes the damage that has been done.

This scheme and others like it succeed by exploiting weaknesses in document notarization and recording processes, as well as challenges within the legal system. While Texas law already required notaries to verify signatures, inconsistent compliance and limited accountability left openings for fraud and abuse. County clerks, meanwhile, are tasked with processing documents efficiently, not investigating their authenticity. In many cases, victims don’t discover fraud until they try to legitimately sell or refinance their property. And even then, the ordeal is far from over. “The cleanup process can be brutal,” Anderson explained. “Proving a deed is fraudulent usually requires formal legal action, and that process is expensive and time-consuming.”

Historically, prosecutors have been hesitant to pursue these cases criminally, not due to lack of concern, but like most states, Texas lacked statutes tailored specifically to deed fraud. Prosecutors were forced to rely on general theft statutes, attempting to fit complex title crimes into legal arguments that simply weren’t designed for this kind of crime.

A Comprehensive Legislative Response

The Texas Legislature addressed these gaps with a four-bill package that reforms the system holistically. The measures strengthen prevention, improve detection, empower victims, and equip prosecutors with felony statutes that reflect deed fraud’s complex reality.

Key provisions include:

Senate Bill 16

Creates two new criminal offenses specifically addressing real property theft and real property fraud, giving prosecutors statutes that align with how deed fraud schemes operate. “These laws send a clear message that Texas is serious about detecting, prosecuting, and deterring deed fraud,” said Anderson. “They won’t stop every bad actor, but they make fraud harder to commit, easier to detect, and faster to unwind without overburdening legitimate transactions.”

Senate Bill 647

Requires county clerks to notify the grantor, grantee, and most recent property owner if a lien appears fraudulent. It also allows clerks to request supporting documentation, seek district attorney assistance, and refuse filing if certain documentation is not provided.

Senate Bill 693

Targets notary reform by criminalizing notarization without a signer’s presence and establishing continuing education requirements through the Secretary of State. The goal is to raise professional standards and accountability among notaries.

Senate Bill 1734

Allows property owners who believe a recorded conveyance is fraudulent to file an owner’s affidavit. If no controverting affidavit is filed, the owner may petition for district court for an expedited review.

The Power of Collaboration

This legislative success underscores the power of collaboration. It was made possible by lawmakers, regulators, law enforcement, county officials, and industry leaders working toward a shared goal. Senator West led the charge, with key contributions from State Representative Rafael Anchia in the Texas House. Coordination with the County Clerk’s Association, the Dallas District Attorney’s office, and John Warren, the Dallas County Clerk, was critical along with input from the Texas Land Title Association. “TLTA’s advocacy on this issue demonstrated exactly why all Texas title agents should be a member of the association,” said Anderson, a former legislator, past TLTA president and current committee chair. “TLTA Vice President of Government Relations and Counsel, Aaron Day, led the advocacy efforts with substantial input from both the Regulatory and Legislative Committees, and with approval from the TLTA Board of Directors.”

A Model for the Nation

The Texas deed fraud package represents a meaningful victory for property owners and the real estate industry alike. It strengthens notary standards, supports county clerks, empowers victims, and gives prosecutors the tools they need to pursue justice. Just as importantly, it offers a roadmap that other states can follow. “This legislation should be used as a model throughout the country,” Anderson said. “Land title associations can partner with lawmakers, prosecutors, and public officials to reduce deed fraud. No law is perfect, but if collaboration leads to legislation that protects families—or helps owners reclaim property faster—then it’s absolutely worth the effort.”

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Texas Title Agent Spots Red Flags, Stops Dubious Deal

Adam Mohrbacher — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 20:46:59 +0000

Aransas County Title recently stopped a fraudster cold and became the latest �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý Crime Watch recipient

By Adam Mohrbacher

In the title industry, transaction security can never be secondary. When critical details are overlooked or due diligence is skipped, there can be real consequences for real people. It is for those reasons and more that �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý created its Crime Watch program, which rewards agents for going above and beyond to detect and deter fraud. �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý agent Aransas County Title became the latest recipient of the award when it stopped a dubious cash deal from closing. Read on to see why strong anti-fraud protocols can make all the difference in moments like these.

Having been in the title industry since 2008, Aransas County Title Escrow Officer Brooke Turner has worked on countless transactions over the course of her career. She knows all the hallmarks of a legitimate transaction, as well as the warning signs that not everything is on the up-and-up. When a contract for a $250,000 property came across her desk, Turner found elements of both. On the plus side, Aransas County Title knew the seller, having handled the purchase of her new home. Yet, some details about the buyer didn’t sit quite right. “The buyers were young and not married, so that was already a red flag because they told us they had not been together too long,” Turner told us. “They also said they were ‘coming into money,’ which is something nobody says.”

Things then got weirder. A woman claiming to be the buyer came in to drop off a $10,000 check—an “amount of earnest money that was a little higher than what we typically see for that sales price.” The check also wasn’t from her own account but from one belonging to her grandmother. The woman insisted everything was fine, but Turner and the rest of the Aransas County Title team were far from convinced. Scrutinizing the check, they noticed the handwriting matched the handwriting on the contract. It appeared that the buyer had actually signed her grandmother’s name.

They decided to verify with the issuing bank, which unsurprisingly reported that the account associated with the check had been closed. The bank reached out to the holder of the now closed account, who stated that she had not actually issued the check and was unaware of any contract. The account holder did say that the woman who dropped off the check was her granddaughter, but that she had been taken off the account due to misuse of funds. That was all the evidence Aransas County Title needed to cancel the contract, leaving any legal action up to the grandmother.

In the aftermath of the fraudulent transaction, Turner was left with mixed emotions. “It made me mad that this type of thing occurred. But I was very happy that we noticed the red flags and put a stop to the transaction.” The experience also reinforced the need for agencies to continue practicing strident anti-fraud measures as part of their daily workflows. At Aransas County Title, Turner explained, “We look at everything associated with identities and banking accounts—including handwriting. If the handwriting on recorded documents doesn’t match the contract or wiring instructions, it’s a huge red flag.”

Again, the experience highlighted the necessity for the title industry to band together to curtail fraud. It is only through collaboration and innovation that meaningful progress can be made. Aransas County Title already does this by utilizing identity verification tools provided by its underwriter, �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý, whenever they need to vet and verify suspicious transaction details. “We double check ID info and banking info through the SecureMyTransaction program and verbally to verify identities and accounts,” she said.

Fraud in the title industry is not going away, at least not any time soon. But with agents like Turner and agencies like Aransas County Title in the mix, fraudulent deals can still be stopped well before they close. By leveraging a mixture of tried-but-true anti-fraud measures and cutting-edge technology, they were able to prevent loss and protect transaction stakeholders. And their experiences offer important insights for any professional wanting to apply the same rigor and care to their own contracts.

Want to learn more about �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý’s Crime Watch program? Start here. You can also check out and schedule a free demo for your agency.

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�ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý Welcomes Kelly Kinsey To Its Texas Team

Adam Mohrbacher — Sat, 17 May 2025 01:54:49 +0000

Kinsey’s addition will strengthen �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý’s title production processes in the region

Longmont, CO — (April 10, 2025) — �ǿմ�ý, the title insurer that is uniquely responsive to the needs of independent agents, is pleased to welcome Kelly Kinsey as Title Officer for Texas.

Kinsey comes to �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý with nearly 30 years of experience in the industry. She got her start in 1996 by working at a prominent title and escrow services provider. She then accepted positions at two national underwriters, serving as a country coordinator and developer respectively. Most recently, Kinsey held the role of Director of Operations for an agency that provides title and closing services in Texas.

Throughout her career, Kinsey has developed varied skill sets and extensive expertise in all elements of title production. This includes end-to-end title production and management, commitment and generation, abstracting and examining, quality control and more. In addition, she has gained experience in leadership and management, process development and administration and support. She has managed teams, implemented software solutions and overseen critical operational functions like payroll, customer service and vendor management.

As Title Officer at �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý, Kinsey will play an important role in streamlining and enhancing title processes for �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý agents across Texas. She will focus specifically on creating efficient workflows, ensuring accuracy and compliance and working across departments and teams to maximize efficiency. Her proven track record of success will help ensure that �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý and its independent agents can meet the highest possible industry standards and achieve mutual growth in the region.

“With decades of experience under her belt, Kelly has seen and done it all in the Texas title insurance market,” said KC West, Sr. Vice President and Southwest Regional Manager at �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý. “Her expertise in title production, flair for working collaboratively with agents and exceptional knowledge on how to optimize processes to better serve stakeholders make her hiring a huge win for both �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý and our network of hardworking agents throughout Texas.”

“I am beyond excited to be part of the �ǿմ�ý Family,” said Kinsey, when asked about her hiring. “I admire the ethics that are baked into the fabric of the company and its mission to empower the independent agent. I can’t wait to apply my passion for title insurance to make a positive impact toward that noble goal. Throughout my career, I have always taken great pride in the relationships I have built with other industry professionals. I am thrilled about doing the same thing at �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý and helping its agents create more lasting, productive and profitable businesses.”

Kinsey’s educational background is in business and marketing. She lives in the Midlothian, Texas area.

Media Inquiries

Adam Mohrbacher
Clockwork Public Relations
e: amohrbacher@clockworkpr.net
p: 651.587.4792

About �ǿմ�ý

�ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý is on a mission to empower independent agents while protecting property owners with secure title insurance. The company partners with its agents and never competes against them with direct or affiliate operations. �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý serves thousands of title professionals as a licensed underwriter in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

Visit alliantnational.com for additional information and follow �ǿմ�ý �ǿմ�ý on and for the latest company updates.

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