HB 1497: Georgia Home Title Protection and Deed Fraud Prevention Act; enact

Georgia law already sets rules for what must appear on deeds and other documents before a county clerk can record them, including a return address requirement. This bill, called the Georgia Home Title Protection and Deed Fraud Prevention Act, adds a new requirement aimed at quitclaim deeds and any similar instrument that transfers property without guaranteeing the seller actually holds clear title. Under the bill, these documents must display a bold, capitalized statement at the top of the first page telling the signer that they are giving up their ownership interest in the property once the document is properly signed and recorded with the clerk of superior court. The bill also makes a small wording fix to an existing subsection about noncompliance with recording rules. It does not set penalties or an effective date beyond the standard process of becoming law.

• Adds a new requirement that quitclaim deeds and other no-warranty property transfer documents include a bold, all-capital warning statement on the first page.
• Specifies the exact wording of the warning, explaining that the grantor loses ownership once the document is executed and recorded.
• Changes the word 'does' to 'shall' in the existing rule about what happens when a document is recorded without a proper return address, a minor technical fix.
• Gives the overall bill the short title 'Georgia Home Title Protection and Deed Fraud Prevention Act.'

People who sign or receive quitclaim deeds and similar property transfers, county clerks of superior court who record real estate documents, real estate attorneys and title companies who prepare these instruments, and homeowners at risk of deed fraud schemes.

Quitclaim deeds are sometimes used in scams where a homeowner is tricked into signing away their property without understanding they are giving up all ownership rights. A clear, bold warning on the document itself could help people recognize what they are signing before recording makes it final.

• Section 1 names the short title, the 'Georgia Home Title Protection and Deed Fraud Prevention Act.'
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 44-2-14 to add new subsection (e), requiring a specific bold warning statement on quitclaim deeds and similar instruments before recording.
• Section 2 also changes 'does' to 'shall' in subsection (c), clarifying that noncompliance with the return-address rule alone does not invalidate recording.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard closing provision.

1. 2026-03-06House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-04House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-03House Hopper (House)

• Mary Ann Santos (D, HD-117)Primary sponsor
• Long Tran (D, HD-080)
• Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)
• Dale Washburn (R, HD-144)

• deed fraud
• property title
• quitclaim deeds
• real estate law
• homeowner protection