Starting Sept. 1, two new Texas laws—Senate Bills 1734 and 693—will take aim at reversing loopholes in the state’s property laws that have allowed bad actors to steal ownership of homes with alarming ease.
Deed theft involves forging or fraudulently transferring property titles, often without the homeowner’s knowledge. The process can take just minutes, but for victims, the legal battle to reclaim their property can drag on for years.
One such victim is Elizabeth Phillips, who says her trust was betrayed earlier this year when she attempted to sell her home through a company called Epiphany Properties.
“That same day we signed papers, they agreed to pay me $120,000 for my home,” Phillips said.
But when the sale failed to materialize before the home’s scheduled foreclosure, she cut ties with the company and filed for bankruptcy. Later, she was stunned to discover a deed claiming she had signed over the property to Epiphany Properties in 2023—two years before she says she ever contacted them.
Now, she’s fighting to reclaim ownership—joining a growing list of Texans navigating complex and costly legal challenges due to deed fraud.
In April, we reported on Sam Cormier, another victim, who says his ex-partner illegally transferred ownership of eight properties into her name.
Under current Texas law, there is no official verification process for property deeds, making fraudulent transfers difficult to reverse. But Senate Bill 1734 is about to change that.
Faster Justice, No Legal Fees
Attorney Gagan Khan of Vestige Law explains that the new legislation will significantly speed up the process for victims to reclaim stolen property—without costly legal fees.
“The first thing is filing an affidavit,” said Attorney Khan. “You’ve got to wait four months for the other side to respond. If there’s no action, you can go to court—no court fee—and the judge will review the case. Once approved, the court order can be recorded to restore a clear title.”
This expedited process, which can now take years and tens of thousands in legal costs, can now be resolved in a matter of months.
Cracking Down on Corrupt Notaries
The second piece of legislation, Senate Bill 693, targets notaries who participate in these fraudulent transactions. Under the new law, any notary involved in deed theft, fraud, or forgery can be charged with a state jail felony.
It’s a much-needed accountability measure in cases like Phillips’, where a notary was present for the disputed signature.
As the new laws go into effect this September, Texas becomes one of the few states to directly address deed fraud with specific legislation—offering new hope for victims.