Would You Know If Someone Filed a Fake Deed on Your Home?

Most homeowners wouldn't, at least not until they went to sell or refinance. Monroe, Lawrence, Morgan, and Brown counties offer a free service that changes that. It's called Property Watch, and it sends you an email or a text when a document is recorded in your name.

Lesa Miller is a REALTOR® and broker in Bloomington, Indiana, who helps homeowners in Bloomington, Bedford, Martinsville and the surrounding towns. Here is how it works and how to sign up.

What is deed fraud?

Deed fraud is when someone forges your signature on a deed to "sell" your property or borrow against it. The county recorder can't turn away a document that's filed in the correct format, so a forged deed can sit in the public records without you knowing.

It can go unnoticed longest on property nobody checks on often, like vacant land, a rental, or a home with no mortgage.

What does Property Watch do?

Property Watch is a free alert from your county recorder, run through a company called Doxpop. Once you sign up, you get an email, a text, or both whenever a document is recorded that matches your name or your property's legal description.

It can't stop a document from being filed. What it does is tell you about it quickly, so you can act before the problem grows.

How do you sign up?

1. Go to watch.doxpop.com/property.

2. Choose Indiana and your county.

3. Enter your full name the way it appears on your deed.

4. Choose email, text, or both. If you choose text, reply to the confirmation text to finish setup.

Sign up each owner on the deed separately. If you own property in more than one county, sign up in each county.

What if you get an alert?

Most alerts are normal filings, like your own refinance or a lien release. If you live on rural land, you may also get alerts for a neighbor's filing, because rural legal descriptions can cover a large area.

If you see a document you don't recognize:

1. Look up the document through your county recorder. In Monroe County, call the Recorder's office at (812) 349-2520.

2. If it looks like fraud, contact your attorney and local law enforcement.

3. Call me. I'll help you look at what was filed and what it means for your property.

Frequently asked questions

Is Property Watch free?

Yes. It's free in counties where the recorder partners with Doxpop, including Monroe, Lawrence, Morgan, and Brown counties.

Does Property Watch prevent deed fraud?

No. The recorder can't reject a properly formatted document. Property Watch alerts you when one is filed so you can act quickly.

How do I get alerts?

By email, by text, or both. You choose when you sign up.

What if my home is in a trust or an LLC?

Enter the name exactly as it appears on your deed. If you're not sure what name that is, I can look it up for you.

Want to know what name is on your deed, or have a question about an alert? Call or text (812) 360-3863, or visit LesaMillerRealEstate.com/Links.

This post is general information, not legal advice. If you think a fraudulent document was filed on your property, talk to an attorney.