NC H431

Registers of deeds must require government-issued photo ID from non-trusted submitters (individuals other than attorneys, title insurance companies, or financial institutions) before recording deeds or property-related instruments, with ID records kept but not posted online

Registers of deeds may refuse to record "suspicious instruments" including those with mismatched notary information, documents claiming exemption from U.S. or state law, or materially false/fraudulent documents not submitted by trusted parties

Each register of deeds must provide a fraud detection alert system allowing property owners to monitor up to five names per email address and receive notifications within 24 hours when land records are filed under those names

Creates an expedited quiet title action in district court allowing actual property owners to challenge fraudulent instruments, with minimum 5-day notice and potential remedies including possession, attorney's fees, and civil penalties up to $10,000 for frivolous filings

Effective October 1, 2025; directs the Legislative Research Commission to study feasibility of automatic enrollment in the fraud alert system with an opt-out option