Senate Bill 1707 aims to address the rising issue of fraudulent and poorly drawn deeds in Tennessee by establishing stricter regulations on who can prepare and file deeds of conveyance for real property. The bill mandates that such deeds must be prepared by a licensed attorney, a licensed title insurance agent, the property owner, or an authorized representative of the owner. Additionally, it requires that a sworn declaration or notarized affidavit be included to verify the preparer's credentials, ensuring that the document is legitimate and properly executed.

The bill also stipulates that county registers are prohibited from registering any deed that does not meet these preparation requirements. Exceptions are made for deeds filed on behalf of government entities and certain financial institutions. The new regulations are set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to all real property conveyances occurring on or after that date. This legislation is intended to protect Tennessee citizens from economic losses related to real estate transactions by ensuring that only qualified individuals are involved in the preparation of property deeds.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 8-13-108(a), 8-13-108, 66-24-101