ALTA Supports Federal Efforts to Combat Deed Fraud, Protect Homeowners

October 20, 2022

U.S. Reps. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.) and Dwight Evans (D-Pa.) on Oct. 19 introduced H.R. 9192, the Good Documentation and Enforcement of Estate Deeds (Good DEED) Act.

The Good DEED Act would:

  • Establish a $10 million annual grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund applications that assist in prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of deed fraud.
  • Mandate that states receiving funding amend state laws to require identifiable information of individuals notarizing and filing deeds, such as fingerprints, photographs, and/or video of filers.
  • Require HUD to report to Congress on activities funded under the grant program and to identify best practices in reducing deed fraud.
  • Establish the first federal definition of deed fraud and direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate guidelines or amend existing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for offenses involving deed fraud.
  • Require the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to add a category for deed fraud to the Uniform Crime Reporting program.

“When Congress returns to session next month, I intend to push for quick action on the Good DEED Act so that we can immediately strengthen protections and begin tracking where and how these schemes are most frequently executed,” said Rep. Cleaver, who is chair of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development. “In the meantime, I highly encourage Missouri and other states to begin working on updating their own laws to eradicate these scams before they become even more prevalent and harmful to members of our communities.”

ALTA members have been actively involved in serving their communities to tackle fraud on a number of fronts. ALTA looks forward to working with Reps. Cleaver and Evans and supporting their important efforts as they further consider the bill.

Click here to view a fact sheet of the Good Deed Act.


Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].