Deceased mother's forged signature found in home sale scheme

"Tangie Harris learned earlier this year that her mother, Priscilla Harris Norris, who died in 2014, appeared to have signed a quitclaim deed in 2025 transferring the family's home to a company called Happy Home Hunters, LLC, local outlet News 5 Cleveland reported. A quitclaim deed is often used to transfer property between family members or in a divorce. But in this case, the document appeared to have been falsified and improperly notarized."

"The notary listed on the deed, who is based in Kent, Ohio, told News 5 that he suspects his notarization was forged as well. He said he has not notarized any documents since 2021 and has never notarized any quitclaim deeds. He provided News 5 with his notary ledger which showed no such transaction as well as a copy of his official stamp and signature. Both reportedly differed from those on the deed filed under Norris's name."

"The National Association of Realtors conducted its 2025 Deed and Title Fraud Survey to assess how widespread these scams have become across the country and to gather policy recommendations. Nearly two-thirds of respondents 63% said they were aware of deed or title fraud in their markets within the past year. The problem was most pronounced in the Northeast, where 92% reported cases of fraud."

Tangie Harris discovered that her mother, Priscilla Harris Norris, who died in 2014, appeared to have signed a 2025 quitclaim deed transferring the family home to Happy Home Hunters, LLC. The deed appeared falsified and improperly notarized. The notary listed on the deed said he has not notarized documents since 2021, never notarized quitclaim deeds, and that his notary ledger and official stamp and signature differed from those on the deed. A 2025 National Association of Realtors survey found 63% awareness of deed or title fraud nationally and 92% awareness in the Northeast. Scams more often target vacant residential land in cities and suburbs; only 12% involved owner-occupied homes. The FBI warned of rising home title theft, and local officials say problems grew after the 2008 mortgage crisis.

Read at www.housingwire.com