A Forged Deed Is Void Ab Initio and Any Encumbrance on Real Property Based Upon a Forged Deed Is Null and Void—Action Based Upon a Forged Deed Is Not Therefore Subject to the Six-Year Statute of Limitations for Fraud

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Rivera, over a three-judge dissent, determined that a forged deed is void ab initio and neither a forged deed nor a mortgage interest based upon a forged deed is valid at any time.  Therefore, the six-year statute of limitations for fraud does not apply and the action was not time-barred: “The legal question raised in this appeal is whether plaintiff … is time-barred under CPLR 213 (8) from seeking to set aside and cancel, as null and void, defendant Bank of America's mortgage interest in real property conveyed on the authority of a forged deed. Under our prior case law it is well-settled that a forged deed is void ab initio, meaning a legal nullity at its inception. As such, any encumbrance upon real property based on a forged deed is null and void. Therefore, the statute of limitations set forth in CPLR 213 (8) does not foreclose plaintiff's claim against defendant. ” Faison v Lewis. 2015 NY Slip Op 04026, CtApp 5-12-15