MI HB6520

Removes "deed" from the general forgery statute (MCL 750.248) to create separate, more specific provisions for real estate documents.

Creates new Section 248b establishing felony charges for falsely making, altering, forging, or counterfeiting deeds, mortgage discharges, powers of attorney, or other documents affecting real property interests, punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment.

Creates new Section 249b establishing felony charges for uttering and publishing forged real estate documents as true, knowing they are false, with intent to defraud, punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment.

Requires circuit courts to enter orders declaring forged real estate documents invalid and mandating that copies be recorded with county registers of deeds, including the liber/page number or identifying reference of the invalid document.

Exempts scrivener's errors from prosecution under all forgery provisions and allows venue in the county where forgery occurred, where the document was uttered, or where the rightful property owner resides.