The Transfer on Death Deed: Is It Always Simpler Than Probate?

Passing property along when you no longer live in it shouldn’t be a huge hassle. And that’s why an increasingly popular choice is the transfer on death deed. This is a real deed, which designates a beneficiary on the real estate title. If you have a beneficiary in mind, and you aren’t already co-owners with …

In Long Island, New York: A Spectacular Case of Alleged Deed Theft

Nassau County, New York is known as America’s first suburban county. It’s an area with beautiful real estate, including the lovely Long Island home of Rosemarie Mika. This 78-year-old homeowner is now fighting for that lovely home — in a spectacular case of alleged deed theft. It happened, the records show, on October 11 of …

$199 Check From “County Deed Records”? Recognize Home Warranty Renewal Scams

Frauds and fakers commonly target homeowners for money. In one of the sleaziest schemes going on at the moment, a home warranty vendor is trying to get homeowners to sign up for its product. What’s worse, the marketing letters don’t look like sales materials. They look like they come from the local recorder of deeds. …

New Hampshire and Texas: Both Looking at Blockchain for Deeds?

Governor Chris Sununu intends to make New Hampshire “a leading jurisdiction for the development of sound and effective applications of blockchain technologies.” This comes on top of a new report from the Governor’s Commission on Cryptocurrencies and Digital Assets, which says blockchain offers improved methods for recording real estate deeds and other title documents. Change …

Heirs, Protect the Seniors in Your Life From Deed Theft

A 91-year-old Floridian recently sent a payment to his insurer. Then the agent called to say the company wouldn’t be able to renew the homeowner’s policy. The deed had been transferred. The home was now legally owned by another person. Some days later, from his bedroom, this shocked and disoriented senior heard three people come …