Estate and Property Fraud
What is deed theft and how does it happen after a death?
Short answer
Criminals file fraudulent documents with the county recorder to transfer a deceased person's property to themselves. It is more common than most people realize. Protect against it by recording the correct transfer of title promptly after death and signing up for the…
What this usually means
Criminals file fraudulent documents with the county recorder to transfer a deceased person's property to themselves. It is more common than most people realize. Protect against it by recording the correct transfer of title promptly after death and signing up for the county recorder's property fraud alert service — many California counties offer this free of charge.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county help for coroner contacts, vital records, cost tools, and paperwork.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.