What is deed theft and how does it actually happen?

Deed theft happens when someone forges or fraudulently files a deed transferring a property's ownership without the real owner's knowledge, often targeting vacant homes, rental properties, or owners who are elderly or living out of the area. It relies on the county recording system accepting a filing without verifying its legitimacy at the point of recording. Brian Beatty can point homeowners toward the county register of deeds to check their property's current recorded status.