Deed Theft

2025-2026 Bill 5159: Deed Theft - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5159
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Wooten
Companion/Similar bill(s): 822
Document Path: LC-0528SA26.docx
Introduced in the House on February 11, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Judiciary
Summary: Deed Theft
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

2/11/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 42
)

2/11/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Judiciary
(
House Journal-page 42
)

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legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/11/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS
BY ADDING SECTION
27-7-80
SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS RELATING TO REAL ESTATE FRAUD
AND CREATE THE FELONY OF DEED THEFT.

B
e it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
C
hapter 7, Title 27 of the
S.C. Code is amended by adding:

S
ection
27-7-80
.
(
A) As used in this section:

(
1) "Fraud," in addition to its normal
legal connotation, means a misrepresentation in any manner, whether
intentionally false or due to gross negligence, of a material fact, a promise
or representation not made honestly and in good faith, and an intentional
failure to disclose a material fact.

(
2) "Deed theft" or "title fraud" means
a form of real estate fraud where criminals unlawfully transfer a property
owner's title or deed to themselves or to another party.

(
3) "Real estate instrument" means any
of the following instruments that convey, transfer, encumber, or affect real
estate and property including, but not limited to, deeds, mortgages, liens as
provided for by law, maps or plats relating to real estate in the county; state
tax property notices; or any other document that is used to show ownership of
real property in this State.

(
B) It is unlawful for a person to:

(
1) alter, forge, or counterfeit any
real estate instruments;

(
2) possess or use a real estate
instrument knowing it to have been altered, forged, or counterfeited; or

(
3) use a false or fictitious name or
address, make a materially false statement, fail to disclose a security
interest, or conceal any other material fact in the filing of a real estate
instrument.

(
C) A person violating the provisions of
this section is guilty of the felony of deed theft and, upon conviction, must
be imprisoned not more than five years.

S
ECTION
2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on February 11, 2026 at 1:40 PM