Recently, you may have seen advertisements for Title Monitoring Services that claim to protect homeowners from title fraud and deed theft. While these services can provide notifications when documents are recorded against your property, many homeowners are unaware that similar monitoring tools may already be available directly through their local county recording office at no cost.
Most county clerks and land records offices offer free property fraud alert programs that notify homeowners when a document is recorded under their name or against their property. These alerts can provide an early warning of potentially fraudulent activity without requiring a monthly subscription fee.
We encourage clients to:
• Visit their county clerk or recorder’s website to see if a free fraud alert program is available. Below find links to the county clerk’s in downstate New York:
• Register their name and property information for notifications.
• Periodically review their property records to ensure all recorded documents are legitimate.
• Contact an attorney, title company, or local authorities immediately if they discover suspicious activity.
It’s important to remember that no monitoring service can prevent someone from filing a fraudulent document. The real value lies in receiving timely notification so you can take action quickly. In many cases, your county’s free alert system provides the same critical first line of defense.
As always, if you have questions about your property’s title, ownership records, or how to protect yourself from real estate fraud, our team is here to help.