What Oklahoma Investors Need to Know About the New Deed Theft Laws

Effective Date: November 1, 2025
Source: Senate Bills 877 & 925

Real estate investors in Oklahoma, especially those holding multiple rental properties, vacant homes, or distressed assets, need to understand the state’s new Deed Theft laws. Beginning November 1, 2025, Oklahoma will implement sweeping protections designed to combat title and deed fraud, a rising crime where scammers forge or falsify ownership documents to steal property without the owner’s consent.

These new laws affect how property owners, investors, and title professionals must monitor and protect property titles, and they introduce criminal penalties for offenders.

What Is Deed Theft?

Under the new legislation, deed theft is defined as intentionally altering, falsifying, forging, or misrepresenting a real estate document to deceive or defraud an owner or unlawfully transfer ownership rights.

It also includes:

• Misrepresenting oneself as the rightful property owner or representative to transfer ownership.

• Using fraudulent deeds, signatures, or notary stamps to record fake ownership changes.

• Filing false liens or encumbrances to gain leverage over legitimate owners.

In short, if someone files a fake deed to make it appear they own your property, that’s deed theft.

Key Provisions of Senate Bill 925 (Title Theft Act)

Senate Bill 925 creates new sections of law under Title 16 and Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes to help victims take quick legal action.

1. Notice of Fraudulent Conveyance

Victims of title theft can now file a “Notice of Fraudulent Conveyance” with the County Clerk in the county where the property is located.
This document:

• Alerts the public that a recorded deed or document is being disputed as fraudulent.

• Triggers a mandatory notification to the District Attorney for investigation.

• Can be filed by the victim or someone acting on their behalf (such as a guardian or attorney).

2. County Clerk Oversight

County clerks are required to post public warnings that filing fraudulent real estate documents is a crime. They can also refuse to record documents they believe are sham legal filings or slander of title.

3. Felony Penalties

Oklahoma has officially made title theft a felony:

• Filing a false document with intent to deceive can lead to up to 3 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

• Filing with intent to defraud the true property owner carries up to 10 years in prison, plus restitution to the victim.

Senate Bill 877: New Real Estate Licensing and Buyer Notification Requirements

SB 877 expands Oklahoma’s Real Estate License Code and adds consumer education requirements to help prevent deed theft.

Key Changes:

1. Mandatory Deed Theft Education for Licensees
   Every Oklahoma real estate licensee must complete continuing education on deed theft prevention by November 1, 2028.

2. Deed Fraud Notice at Every Closing
   Buyers will now receive a Deed Fraud Notice at closing, an official OREC, approved form that explains the signs and risks of deed theft and what to do if fraud is suspected.

   The form warns of red flags such as:

   • New loans or liens recorded without your knowledge.

   • Property tax bills or utility notices going missing.

   • Unfamiliar people claiming ownership or attempting to sell your property.

   Buyers must sign to acknowledge they’ve received this notice at closing.

Why Investors Should Pay Attention

While these new protections help, deed theft often targets absentee investors, owners who:

• Hold multiple rental properties.

• Own vacant homes, inherited estates, or long-term investments.

• Don’t regularly monitor county property records.

Once a fake deed is recorded, clearing title can take months of legal action and thousands in attorney fees.
These laws now make it easier to act fast, but prevention remains key.

How Oklahoma Investors Can Protect Their Properties

1. Check county records quarterly.
   Visit your County Clerk’s online portal or office to confirm your name is still on the deed.

2. Sign up for title-alert services.
   Some counties and private companies offer email notifications for new filings tied to your property.

3. Use a property manager or attorney.
   Professionals can spot and respond to fraudulent filings faster.

4. Keep your mailing address updated.
   Many victims miss early notices because correspondence goes to outdated addresses.

5. Report suspicious activity immediately.
   File a police report, contact your county clerk, and record a Notice of Fraudulent Conveyance if needed.

Bottom Line

The Deed Theft Prevention Acts (SB 925 & SB 877) strengthen Oklahoma’s ability to prosecute real-estate fraud and protect legitimate property owners.
For investors, it’s a reminder: title monitoring and prompt reporting are now essential parts of real-estate due diligence.

About OKC Management

At OKC Management, we help Oklahoma property owners and investors safeguard their assets through professional property management, compliance monitoring, and trusted local expertise.

If you want peace of mind knowing your properties are protected and properly managed, contact our team today to learn more about our full-service property management solutions in Oklahoma City.