A Dayton homeowner finally got her deed back.

The title to Robin M’s home was swiped out from under her while she was undergoing cancer treatments two years ago.

Last year, she proved that her property was taken from her by deed theft. The Common Pleas Court of Montgomery County, Ohio determined that her Dayton home does, in fact, belong to her, not to the swindlers.

Since then, Ohio’s Second District Court of Appeals has affirmed the county court’s decision.

What Happened in Robin’s Case

Robin M’s GoFundMe page tells a harrowing story of a deed holder who was diagnosed with lung cancer and dealing with fraud at the same time. Robin says the perpetrator forged a deed to her home and recorded it in Montgomery County, Ohio.

This falsely (but officially) transferred the title to Robin’s home.

Robin wanted to fight. But courts are costly. Legal fees and costs accumulated, and reached a five-figure sum in Robin’s case.

After dealing with serious medical needs, she had no way to pay for legal representation to try to get her deed back.

“I’m just recovering from lung cancer,” Robin wrote online. “And I’m exhausted.”

The case got attention in the area. A group of local supporters heard Robin’s plea. They met at a library in Dayton to offer a brunch event to raise money for the cause.  

Yet Another Legal Hoop to Jump Through

The people Robin sued over the quitclaim appealed. Still, they couldn’t prove the quitclaim was valid. And the court awarded Robin her property back.

Being forced to deal with the appeal was painful, but worthwhile. Robin’s grandkids can now inherit the deed. She cried with relief when the appeals court issued its decision.

Now, to deal with the $15K+ property taxes due on the home, on top of all the court costs. Also, the place is something of a mold-ridden wreck, as other people had physical control of it for some time, Robin notes. Mold remediation work costs thousands of dollars.  

Crucially, Robin needed the deed reconveyed into her name in order to deal with taxes and contractors.  But Robin, with the help of the new county recorder, pushed through it. She says she wants to set an example for others, encouraging them not to walk away from their homes — the core of generational wealth for ordinary people. And she wants to raise awareness about victims’ distress.

Thieves have no qualms about stealing from struggling people and their heirs. They will even victimize dead homeowners.

Montgomery County Recorder Speaks Out on Deed Fraud

Lori Kennedy is the Montgomery County Recorder. She calls deed fraud “a growing concern in Montgomery County” and a priority for her office.

“Unlike losing a car or cell phone,” she explains, “losing your home to deed fraud cuts much deeper.”

Since taking office at the start of 2025, Kennedy has begun the county’s Deed Fraud Precheck System in collaboration with the county auditor’s office. This puts all quitclaim deeds through identity checks and notary validations before the instruments can be recorded.

The county also offers a Fraud Alert Notification System (FANS) to alert owners whenever someone files anything on their property. Deed holders may sign up in person (on the 5th floor of the County Administration Building) or online through the recorder’s office website. Upon request, the office sends sign-up forms through the mail. Montgomery County deed holders may choose to receive alerts by mail, email, or both. There is no cost for the service.

Deed holders who believe they’ve been targeted should quickly call the county recorder’s office and file a complaint. Request and complete the county’s Affidavit of Facts Relating to Title form to detail the problem.

The recorder of deeds will then review the complaint.

Not all documents filed against a property are fraudulent, but the recorder’s office is keeping a lookout for those that could be. If a document appears to be a false filing, the recorder’s office will send it to the prosecutor’s office to examine and potentially investigate criminally.

Are Prosecutions Actually Happening?

Yes. As Lori Kennedy explains: “Since January, we’ve made 16 referrals to the Prosecutor’s Office and sent five complaints to the Secretary of State for suspicious notaries.”

And just recently, also in the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, two suspects connected with an LLC called Love Has Homes have been found guilty in three instances of quitclaim abuse. The charges include grand theft, forgery, and telecommunications fraud. One of the suspects was sentenced to more than four years; the other got two to three years.

“These defendants took advantage of the ease that quitclaim deeds provide to commit these thefts and certainly deserve to serve every day of their prison sentence,” the Montgomery County prosecutor told the press.

The pair used quitclaim deeds to fraudulently transfer homes in Dayton, Centerville, and Huber Heights by forging the owners’ signatures. After recording the falsified deeds, the pair sold the properties quickly, at below-market prices.

Now, Kennedy wants Ohio representatives and senators to support stronger deed fraud laws, to scare off potential perpetrators in the first place.

Let’s get this done. Turn the pain of victims into a catalyst for change.

An Ounce of Prevention Helps Keep a Deed Safe

Recovering a stolen home can take years to accomplish. It’s clearly best to proactively keep bad actors away from deeds. In that spirit, here are multiple tips:

• If you’re buying property, always have a title search done first.  

• If you’re transferring a deed to someone else, speak with an attorney. Have the attorney go over your documents.

• Write your will, so a probate court safeguards and properly transfers your deed. Have your will witnessed and notarized according to your state’s law.

• Don’t sign agreements before fully understanding their legal impact.

• Stay current with all home-related bills and payments.

Your county might have an automated notification system you can sign up for, as Montgomery County, Ohio does. To find out, visit your recorder of deeds’ website. Look for the “fraud alert” email system. If you were ever to get an alert because there’s a filing against your property, you could report a fraud quickly. This could stop a bad actor from reselling your home.

And spread the word to other deed holders. Together, we’re safer.