And state Attorney General Letitia James is championing the cause in a bid to keep New Yorkers in their homes and protect generational wealth.
“This legislation will provide real and necessary changes to our civil and criminal laws to stop the perpetrators of these crimes and provide the protections and remedies needed to keep people in their homes,” James said in a statement. Another part of the bill would extend the statute of limitations to allow victims eight years — rather than five — to file a case, with the hope that the longer timeline would give investigators more time to look into claims that sometimes only emerge years after the fact., sponsored by Sen. Brian Kavanagh and Assemblymember Helene Weinstein and co-authored by James’ office, would enact several measures to defend homeowners who might be victims of deed theft.
Prosecutors could file a legal action on properties involved in suspected deed theft, and that flag would alert banks, insurance companies and potential buyers.