Some of you might have already heard about the passing of Senate Bill 1479, but all of
Arizona needs to be excited about this new development. SB1479 is the state’s first
comprehensive measure aimed at preventing deed fraud. This landmark legislation
establishes many critical safeguards to enhance the integrity and security of property
ownership and deed transfers throughout Arizona.
Safeguard #1: Individuals recording documents in person must present valid photo
identification, unless the filing is conducted by an escrow officer, title agent, chartered
bank or governmental entity.
Safeguard #2: County Assessors are now required to implement an Address Protection
Program that notifies enrolled property owners of any ownership changes affecting their
property(ies). This program is modeled after the successful initiative developed by the
Mohave County Assessor’s Office in 2022.
Safeguard #3: Any individual who records a document containing material
misstatements or false claims is liable to the property owner for no less than $5,000 or
the actual damage incurred, whichever is greater, along with reasonable attorney fees
and legal costs.
Safeguard #4: A person named in a fraudulent document who knowingly refuses to
release or correct the record within twenty days of receiving written notice will be liable
for at least $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, in addition to reasonable
attorney fees and associated costs.
Safeguard #5: Knowingly recording fraudulent documents is now classified as a Class
5 felony, an increase from the previous classification of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Safeguard #6: Notary publics are required to obtain a thumbprint for all deed-related
notarizations, adding a critical layer of identity verification.
Safeguard #7: Remote notarizations are permitted under strict guidelines, including the
requirement that notary journals capture the signer’s identification number and that
audiovisual recordings of the transaction be retained for a minimum of seven years.
SB1479 passed unanimously through committees in both the Arizona House and the
Arizona Senate, reflecting strong bipartisan agreement on the importance of protecting
property owners. This overwhelming support underscores a clear mandate from
Arizona’s elected officials to strengthen safeguards around one of the most valuable
assets individuals own – their homes.
The success of this legislation was the result of collaborative efforts among Arizona
lawmakers, County Assessors, Recorders, the Attorney General’s office and even a
deed fraud victim, all working together to develop practical, effective solutions to combat
deed fraud. SB1479 represents a significant step forward in protecting property rights in
Arizona by introducing multiple layers of security that were previously unavailable.
I am forever grateful to the Mohave County’s Assessor staff for thinking outside the box
when creating the Address Protection Program, I greatly acknowledge the added work
due to training, travel, multiple meetings and changes of policy.
If you have not yet enrolled the Assessors Address Protection Program, stop by one of
our three Assessor offices in Mohave County or visit the Assessor website under
“Program Enrollment”.
Jeanne Kentch
Mohave County Assessor
