The Growing Threat of Fraudulent Property Recordings

Across the United States, fraudulent property document recordings—often filed by individuals tied to the “sovereign citizen” movement—pose serious risks to counties, property owners, and public officials.

While these filings have no legal merit, they often look legitimate enough to meet basic filing requirements. Once recorded, they can create chaos: clouding property titles, triggering costly litigation, intimidating public officials, and even exposing communities to safety risks.

Countrywide Process, LLC’s Nationwide Compliance Rule

At Countrywide Process, LLC, our position is firm:

Fraudulent or sovereign citizen–style property documents will never be accepted for eRecording.

If these documents are submitted at all, they must be presented physically at the county recorder’s office, which Countrywide Process LLC is still willing to deliver on a client’s behalf, where the County Recorder’s staff can apply closer scrutiny and enforce compliance with state and federal law.

Why These Filings Are Dangerous

1. Administrative and Financial Impact

• Drain on staff resources: Recorders must log and process filings, even if fraudulent.
• Costly legal action: Removing a false lien often requires expensive court orders.
• Harassment of officials: Sovereign citizens frequently target judges, sheriffs, and county staff with false liens.

2. Harm to Property Owners

• Credit and financial damage: A fraudulent lien can block refinancing or sales.
• Property theft attempts: Fake deeds have been used to illegally occupy homes.
• Delayed discovery: Fraudulent documents may remain undetected until a sale.

3. Threats to Public Safety

• Classified domestic terrorism: The FBI identifies the sovereign citizen movement as a domestic threat.
• Escalation to violence: Confrontations with officials and law enforcement have historically turned deadly.

Mandatory Client Acknowledgment Before eRecording

To strengthen compliance nationwide, Countrywide Process, LLC requires all clients to acknowledge compliance before submitting documents for eRecording:

• Clients must confirm whether the filing does or does not pertain to a sovereign citizen–style property document.
• Any individual who submits, or causes to be submitted, a document on their own behalf or on behalf of a third party connected in any way to the “Sovereign Citizen” movement, or to any other fraudulent scheme or activity, expressly acknowledges and agrees that they assume full and sole responsibility and liability for all resulting consequences, including but not limited to punitive damages, monetary losses, civil penalties, and criminal prosecution. Such individuals further agree to waive any defense based on statutory limitations periods and expressly consent that no statute of limitations shall bar, restrict, or otherwise prevent the initiation or continuation of legal action against them arising from the submission of such documents.

• Without acknowledgement, the document cannot proceed electronically.

This safeguard ensures that responsibility stays with the filer, not the recording channel.

Why Physical Submission is the Only Option

When questionable circumstances arise, the only path forward is physical submission at the county recorder’s office. This allows:

• Direct review by county staff.

• Referral to law enforcement or fraud prevention units if needed.

• Compliance with felony statutes for knowingly filing false or forged documents (e.g., California Penal Code §115 PC).

Protecting Citizens Nationwide

Property owners can also take proactive steps:

• Sign up for property fraud alerts: Many counties notify owners by email whenever a document is filed in their name.
• Act immediately if fraud is suspected: Report it to law enforcement, your recorder, and the district attorney.
• Regularly monitor your property title: Catch unauthorized filings early.

Conclusion

Filings from sovereign citizens, which may or may not be fraudulent in nature, represent a nationwide risk—tying up county resources, targeting officials, harming property owners, and endangering public safety.

That’s why Countrywide Process, LLC, enforces a nationwide rule:
Such documents are never accepted for eRecording.

Instead, they must be filed physically with the county recorder, where they can be thoroughly reviewed. By requiring every client to acknowledge compliance before submission, we protect our clients, our counties, and the integrity of property records nationwide.