Somone changed the name on my home's deed, how could this happen?

Board certified real estate attorney, Cassie McGarvey, talks about how someone can mysteriously change the name on the deed of your home without you knowing and how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim.

[PrairieNightMoon]

If the crook can change the deed so easily, the real owner should be able to change it back that easily.

[janemm]

The county must be held accountable because legit homeowners pay property taxes to the county office.

[sheerwillsurvival]

They charge you taxes but can’t protect your mortgage

[shavonblue]

Its probably someone who work at the tax assessor office. Texas should require an ID and require you to show up in person to transfer a Deed.

[sting]

Notary person working with scammer . Usually they are family members

[calidreams]

It’s not the homeowners fault, the county is at fault for accepting fraudulent documents and the bank is at fault for giving loans to identity thieves. They need to change their policies to protect citizens or take responsibility for their own actions.

[marthajean]

So, by law, the clerk at the store cards everyone buying cigarettes or a beer, but no-one asks for any ID before transferring YOUR HOME. And all you can do is keep checking to see if it's been stolen yet. smdh

[bfrandsen]

"What can you do to protect yourself?". Response, " Oh just keep an eye on it and see if someone is mowing your grass." WTF are you talking about? It's 2024 and this is the best we can do?

[SCSC-qzrr]

What??? There’s nothing they can do??? People need to start signing petition to pass a law that will required anybody to prove you are the actual owner before changing any type of documents like this, this is insane, that the county allows anybody to steal your property under your noses…

[RestynPeece]

"its quite simple actually!" What!? there's the problem! wow!

[softersideofc.c.]

Its crazy how scammer have so much access to other ppl paperwork an nobody seems to ask any question or for Id, nothing. But then when the real homeowner shows up now you need all forms of Identification

[AJ-jwyp]

The "How" is that the state of Texas does NOT require an ID if a person shows up to the tax office to request a transfer of a deed. When you try to change it back, they DO. Our identity was stolen, and persons opened accounts in our names online and in person, no ID needed. When we made a police report and requested these accounts shut down, THEY REQUIRED US TO SHOW OUR IDENTITY and pay fees, etc. The officer who took our report was kind enough to suggest that we check to make sure no one transferred the deed to our home. When we requested a block of some kind to make sure this couldn't happen, they stated that Texas doesn't do that. So be aware people, this can happen to anyone!!! We were current on everything, great credit, etc. Thia happened after a T-Mobile hack.

[kraftwurx_Aviation]

Title or deed fraud is fraudulent no matter what. Automatic 50 years in prison for people caught doing this...

[geoleo]

So this is identity theft. There has to be a way to catch the person stealing the identity and benefiting from the theft. If they’re getting a loan it’s obviously a bad loan. There has to be fail safes against this

[Sandy-ddjz]

Harris county needs to correct this huge problem

[x-men-]

Keeping the resident property safe, is that the government job? Then why do we need a gov when they do nothing to protect us?

[imo.]

Why aren't they taking pictures and fingerprints before doing any deed transfers???? Why not require social security cards etc. There has to be more done to help fight this mess!!

[musictosoothe]

County offices should not file any deed changes without first contacting the owner on record or requiring that they be there in person.

[sarahdawn]

Why cant the county insure that the transfer request is from the actual owner? How can a fraudulent Notary stamp not be recognized? Why cant the county "undo" the transfer once the actual owner presents ID and denies it? How come the county cant be sued or otherwise held responsible for failing to protect a piece of property from theft?
It's laziness. The county would rather forfeit a property to theft than take steps to identify a thief who they enabled.
Why is it the property owners responsibility to constantly monitor what the county is doing with their property?
THIS IS NOT THE PROPERTY OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT. IT IS THE COUNTY'S!

[chazman]

The municipality needs to be held accountable for this. None of this stuff should be happening.