1Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, in forgery and fraudulent practices,
3providing for the offense of filing false or forged documents
4relating to single-family residences and for the offense of
5fraud relating to a deed or mortgage on real property; and,
6in falsification and intimidation, further providing for the
7offense of impersonating a notary public or a holder of a
8professional or occupational license.

9The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10hereby enacts as follows:

11Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
12Statutes is amended by adding sections to read:

13§ 4101.1. Filing false or forged documents relating to single-
14family residences.

15(a) Recording of deeds.--The following shall apply:

16(1) A person commits an offense if the person:

17(i) Files with the county office responsible for
18recording deeds any false or forged document or
19instrument which affects title to, places an encumbrance
20on or places an interest secured by a mortgage or deed of

1trust on real property consisting of a single-family
2residence containing not more than four dwelling units.

3(ii) Has knowledge that the document is false or
4forged.

5(2) An offense under this subsection is a felony of the
6third degree.

7(b) Notary public.--The following shall apply:

8(1) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
9makes a false sworn statement to a notary public to induce
10the notary public to perform an improper notarial act on an
11instrument or document affecting title to or placing an
12encumbrance on real property consisting of a single-family
13residence containing not more than four dwelling units.

14(2) An offense under this subsection is a felony of the
15third degree.

16§ 4101.2. Fraud relating to a deed or mortgage on real
17property.

18The following shall apply:

19(1) A notary public commits an offense if the notary
20public:

21(i) Knowingly and willfully with intent to defraud
22performs any notarial act in relation to a deed or
23encumbrance or any document affecting title on real
24property consisting of a single-family residence
25containing not more than four dwelling units.

26(ii) Has knowledge that the deed or encumbrance
27contains a false statement or is forged.

28(2) An offense under this subsection is a felony of the
29third degree.

30Section 2. Section 4913(b) of Title 18 is amended and the

1section is amended by adding a subsection to read:

2§ 4913. Impersonating a notary public or a holder of a 
3professional or occupational license.

4* * *

5(a.1) Real estate transactions.--A person commits an offense
6if the person falsely pretends to hold the office of notary
7public in this Commonwealth and engages in any act under section
84101.2 (relating to fraud relating to a deed or mortgage on real
9property).

10(b) Grading.--

11(1) Except as set forth in paragraph (2) or (3), an
12offense under this section is a misdemeanor of the second
13degree.

14(2) If the intent of the actor is to harm, defraud or
15injure anyone, an offense under this section is a misdemeanor
16of the first degree.

17(3) An offense under subsection (a.1) is a felony of the
18third degree.

19Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.