Stewart Title Supports Arizona Title Alert Program

PHOENIX (September 20, 2023) –– With property fraud activity on the rise, Arizona has begun rolling out a new, free alert system to several counties across the state. The new program alerts property owners as soon as a new document is recorded, allowing users to easily access content and take appropriate action to protect their interest.

“Fraudsters are pretending to be property owners and recording documents that transfer the title to themselves, then they resell the property,” said Leslie Banes, Escrow Operations Manager at Stewart Title Phoenix. “In Arizona, county recording offices are required to record all documents submitted to them, even those that may appear false or suspicious.”

Homeowners can sign up for this program with a valid email address, and Stewart recommends establishing alerts for any names that could be on file for all properties.

“Setting up simple Google Alerts notifying you of any digital mention of your name on the internet can allow for an extra layer of protection,” said Banes. “However, more layers of protection are needed. You want to have a title insurance policy on any piece of property that you own and if possible, you want a homeowner’s policy. This policy is retroactive and may protect you from future claims made by past owners. It also gives current owners access to underwriters that may be able to assist in correcting a misrecorded document.”

On top of expert underwriting and title service, Stewart’s preferred partnership with CertifID means buyers and sellers get an added level of protection from wire fraud, requiring identity verification in order to have funds wired.

To learn more about Stewart, title insurance or CertifID wire protection, contact Leslie Banes at leslie.banes@stewart.com. Maricopa County residents can sign up for title alert notifications by visiting this website.  This service is also available in Pima, Pinal and Yavapai counties, with the rest to follow by 2025. If you are a victim of title fraud, reach out to your title company and seek legal advice.

Stewart (NYSE-STC) is a global real estate services company, offering products and services through our direct operations, network of Stewart Trusted Providers™ and family of companies. From residential and commercial title insurance and closing and settlement services to specialized offerings for the mortgage and real estate industries, we offer the comprehensive service, deep expertise and solutions our customers need for any real estate transaction. At Stewart, we are dedicated to becoming the premier title services company and we are committed to doing so by partnering with our customers to create mutual success. Learn more at stewart.com.