AnalysisSenate 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.