CLEARFIELD – A county office responded to a report a recent press release regarding fraudulent deed recordings.
It was announced last week that the Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office was investigating the recording of fraudulent deeds at the Clearfield County Courthouse. Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. stated in the press release that: “the investigation is focusing on irregularities that appear in several deeds claiming ownership of gas rights for nearly 2700 acres of property in the Morrisdale area”. Shaw stated that “the investigation began after the District Attorney’s Office received a complaint from a property owner seeking to enter a lease agreement with a gas company”.
Shaw said that “as a result of fraudulent deed recordings, land owners in the Morrisdale area seeking to enter lease agreements with gas companies may be required to file lawsuits to protect their legal interests. Gas companies intending to drill wells are reluctant to enter lease agreements when ownership of the gas rights is clouded by fraudulent deed recordings”.
Shaw stated that, “the investigation has identified what appears to be fraudulently recorded deeds claiming ownership of gas rights. The theft of gas rights may have an enormous economic impact on the true owners of the gas rights. Land owners should not be required to spend thousands of dollars to file lawsuits to protect their ownership interests”.
Clearfield County Register/Recorder Maureen Inlow addressed the issue at Tuesday’s Clearfield County Commissioners’ meeting. She said her office had received a lot of calls after the investigation was announced.
“Under no circumstances does the county have fault,” said Inlow. “We don’t police deed or title.”
Inlow said her office checks acknowledgement of notary as well as certificate of residence. “We’re just a recording office.”
“If a deed is recorded incorrectly it falls into the court of law,” Inlow added.
Commissioner Mark McCracken praised Inlow’s office, stating that she had a well maintained order of recordings. Commissioner John Sobel, through his experience as a lawyer, responsibility falls on who prepares the deed.
Inlow said they pretty much know the who, what, where and when of the case, and now it’s up to the DA and court.