As part of its Title Fraud Prevention Through Identity Verification Pilot Program, The Lee County, Fla., clerk of court and comptroller requires all electronically recorded deeds in the county to be accompanied by copies of the grantors’ and grantees’ government-issued photo identification.
The pilot program was established last year under HB 1419. Lee County was chosen to be the state’s pilot location for the program. The ID requirement through the program will make it easier for law enforcement to verify the identity of the parties engaged in a property-related transaction and investigate fraudulent activity, according to a release notifying recording entities of the new requirements.
ID requirements went into effect in late 2023 for deeds recorded in person and by mail.
A brief explaining the pilot program’s requirements states, “Customers and companies will be required to include government-issued photo identifications (IDs) with electronically submitted deeds in Lee County effective June 1, 2024. The clerk worked with its recording software company, Catalis, to allow copies of the IDs to be submitted electronically. Copies of the IDs are non-recordable documents included with each deed.
“Electronically submitted deeds received on or after June 1 will be rejected due to ID non-compliance,” the brief continued. “It is important to familiarize yourself with the ID uploading and submission process to avoid any deed rejections once the requirement is effective. Please reach out to your e-rRecord vendor with questions relating to the submission process.”
It provides the following identification requirements:
- “Images of IDs are only accepted if name, address and signature are clear and legible.
- “At this time, poor quality ID photos will not be used as a basis for rejection, but it is requested that they be of the highest quality possible.
- “Parties may redact information from the image of their ID, except name, address, photo and signature.
- “Persons signing for, or in lieu of, a grantor/grantee must provide an image of their ID. The person’s position/role in representing the grantor/grantee must be stated/typed/written on the document with the image of the ID. This applies to those signing as a representative for a business, agency, trust, etc.
- “With the exception of those signing for, or in lieu of a grantor/grantee, the name on the ID must match the grantor/grantee name on the deed document. An abbreviated form (John D. Smith instead of John David Smith, for example) is acceptable. However, deviation is only allowed if the individual is signing with less than and not more than what is on the identification document.
- “Expired identification is acceptable as long as the name on the identification matches the name on the deed document.”