Rep. Balkcom files bill in North Carolina House to prevent title fraud

A new bill filed by State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom in the North Carolina House seeks to reduce title fraud by establishing measures to verify property documents and protect land records, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 535 on March 26 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Title Fraud Prevention Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill, titled the Title Fraud Prevention Act, aims to combat title fraud by enacting several measures. It criminalizes the presentation of fraudulent deeds and conveyances, with penalties varying based on property value, and empowers the Register of Deeds to require government-issued photo ID for recording real property documents. It introduces a fraud detection alert system for notifying registrants of changes in land records and allows legal action to quiet title if fraudulent conveyances are filed. The bill also sets conditions under which the Register of Deeds can refuse to register suspicious instruments, with exemptions for trusted submitters like attorneys and title companies. Various sections become effective on different dates, with the earliest changes taking effect on Oct. 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Brian Biggs proposed the most bills (23) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Balkcom graduated from Blue Ridge Community College in 2016 with an AA.

Balkcom, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 117th House district, replacing previous state representative Timothy Moffitt.