MI Senate Bill 252

Legislation

State: Michigan
Signed: October 20, 2011

Effective: January 01, 2012
Chapter: Public Act No. 204

Summary

Senate Bill 252 institutes tougher criminal penalties for knowingly notarizing real property and mortgage transactions in violation of Michigan’s Notary Public Act.

Affects

Amends Michigan Compiled Laws 55.309.

Changes

Provides that a person who knowingly violates the Notary Public Act when notarizing a document relating to an interest in real property or a mortgage transaction is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment of up to 4 years, or both.

Analysis

Senate Bill 252 institutes tougher criminal penalties for knowingly notarizing real property and mortgage transactions in violation of Michigan’s Notary Public Act. Michigan has been one of the states hardest hit by mortgage and real property transfer fraud, with entire neighborhoods blighted by its devastating effects. The bill originally was much broader. It defined any knowing violation of the Notary Public Act a felony, but was scaled back into its present form when the bill crossed over to the House of Representatives. The bill was enrolled with the enactment clause indicating that the bill take immediate effect.

Read Senate Bill 252.