Misdeeds | An Atlanta News First investigation

Misdeeds, an investigative series produced by Atlanta News First from September 2023 through June 2024, exposed a loophole in Georgia law that left local families robbed of their most valued asset: their home.

 Our reporting uncovered a pattern of deed thefts at the center of real estate fraud. It’s a crime that often goes unpunished.

 Misdeeds got immediate results, creating a new state law. Previously, state policy did not require ID to file a deed on a house.  

 Clerks were not even allowed to ask for IDs. 

 The more metro Atlanta became a hotspot for real estate, the more deed theft seemed to happen—thieves exploiting the loophole in state law to steal and transfer the title of homes. Because of the new Georgia law created as a direct result of this investigation, homeowners’ largest investment is now protected.

Read and watch the full series here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/news/investigate/stolenhome/