To check your home title for fraud, search the official land-records index for the county where the property is located, review recent documents recorded against it, and compare the named owner with the county assessor or property-appraiser record. If you find a document you did not authorize, contact the recording office and local law enforcement, preserve the records, and seek advice from a real-estate attorney. County services and legal procedures vary by state.
Where to check your home title
Start with the official land-records office for the county where the property sits. It may be called the recorder, county clerk, or register of deeds. Use the county’s own website or contact the office to find its official search system; a third-party search result is not a substitute for the county record.
Search by the owner’s name and, if the county index supports it, by parcel number or another property identifier. Some counties also offer property-record notification services. California’s Department of Real Estate notes that availability is not universal and directs owners to check locally when a county is not listed.
How to review the records
- Search the county index. Look for recent recorded instruments associated with the property or owner. Search options and index coverage differ by county.
- Review documents that can affect ownership or the property. Pay particular attention to deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages or deeds of trust, and liens that you do not recognize.
- Obtain the actual document. If an index entry raises a concern, request or retrieve the recorded instrument or an official copy. An index description may not show the full document or enough detail to understand the filing.
- Cross-check the owner listing. Compare the owner named in the land records with the county assessor’s or property appraiser’s record, where available. Miami-Dade County advises owners to check both deed records and the property-appraiser listing.
A mismatch or unfamiliar entry is a reason to investigate through official channels, not proof by itself that fraud occurred. An online index can help you identify a document to review; it does not let you conclusively determine whether a signature was forged or a filing is legally valid.
#1 Best Overall
What a recording alert can—and cannot—do
Check whether your county offers an official property-fraud or recording-alert service, and enroll if it is useful to you. Local programs differ in what they monitor, how they notify subscribers, and when coverage begins. For example, Fresno County says its service applies to documents recorded after subscription activation. An alert may therefore not tell you about an earlier filing.
Before relying on an alert, check the county’s own description of its coverage: what identifiers or document types it monitors, how it sends notices, whether enrollment is prospective, and how to view or report a flagged record. Treat a notice as a prompt to inspect the underlying record, not as a finding that fraud happened.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Recording alerts do not prevent someone from attempting to submit a document. California’s Department of Real Estate cautions that recorder offices do not necessarily verify the validity and legitimacy of documents presented for recording. A recorded instrument is not automatically proof that a transfer was legally valid.
Start with the county’s official service before paying for monitoring. Local government alerts can provide useful notice, and some county programs are free, but availability and coverage are local. Brazoria County Clerk states that a home deed is public information and cannot be “locked” from public access, as advertised on TV. That is the county’s statement; it should not be taken as a nationwide legal rule.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What to do if you find a document you did not authorize
- Confirm the record with the recording office. Ask how to obtain the complete recorded document and how the county accepts reports of a suspected unauthorized filing.
- Preserve the evidence. Keep the alert, a copy of the document, its recording number, and your correspondence with the county and other officials.
- Report the suspected filing to local authorities. Contact local law enforcement or the county prosecutor’s real-estate fraud unit, if one exists. County guidance may identify the appropriate office.
- Consult a real-estate attorney promptly. The court filings, deadlines, and notice requirements depend on state law and the circumstances. Get advice specific to the property’s jurisdiction rather than relying on another county’s procedure.
For example, Contra Costa County directs people disputing a transfer to its Real Estate Fraud Unit. Dallas County describes a Texas process involving an owner’s affidavit and specified notice steps; that process should not be treated as the procedure elsewhere. Miami-Dade County likewise directs suspected victims to law enforcement and an attorney.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
Questions to ask about your county’s service
- Does it search by owner name, parcel number, or particular document categories?
- Does it send email, text, or postal notices, and what record does a notice identify?
- Does coverage begin at enrollment or include documents recorded earlier?
- How does the county recommend verifying and reporting a suspicious entry?
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
