A Florida man preparing to sell a home he estimated was worth approximately $500,000 discovered a quitclaim deed listing just $10 in consideration.
He told police he had never signed the document or authorized anyone to transfer his ownership interest.
His former wife, Sharon Joy Barnett, 56, of Margate, now faces a first-degree felony identity-fraud charge over the alleged transfer.
She was arrested Oct. 26, 2026, after an officer stopped her vehicle and discovered an outstanding warrant.
Divorce Agreement Required the Couple to Sell Their Home
Barnett and her then-husband purchased the Margate residence in October 2006 for approximately $265,000, according to the police affidavit. They lived there for about 11 years before filing for divorce in July 2017.
During the proceedings, her husband moved out. Their agreement called for the property to be sold after their daughter reached 18, with the proceeds divided between them.
Ex-Husband Found a $10 Deed He Denied Signing
When the former husband contacted a real estate agent about listing the house, he learned that a quitclaim deed affecting his ownership interest had been recorded in March 2024. The document purported to alter his stake in the property and showed consideration of $10, according to the sworn Margate Police affidavit.
In a sworn statement, the former husband said he had neither signed the deed nor authorized anyone to sign it on his behalf or transfer his ownership interest.
He estimated the house’s current market value at approximately $500,000 and said the disputed filing prevented him from selling it. The $10 amount shown on the recorded instrument was its stated consideration, not proof that a sale took place for that price.
Notary Could Not Independently Recall the Ex-Husband Being Present
The notary identified on the disputed deed initially recalled notarizing it and told investigators she had known Barnett personally for several years. During further questioning, however, she said she could not independently remember whether the former husband had been present when the document was purportedly signed.
According to the affidavit, the notary acknowledged that she had no notary journal or other contemporaneous record establishing the circumstances of the signing. Detectives said her accounts changed during a recorded, body-camera interview.
Florida’s notary statute sets identification and appearance requirements for acknowledging signatures. Investigators alleged that Barnett filed, or caused another person to file, the disputed instrument using her former husband’s identifying information without his consent.
Prosecutors Charged a First-Degree Felony Involving $100,000 or More
The Broward County State Attorney’s Office filed one count of criminal use of personal identification information on Oct. 6, 2026. The criminal information, in case 26-011939-CF10A, alleges that Barnett fraudulently used another person’s identifying information between March 2 and Oct. 14, 2024, without consent.
The filing invokes Florida Statute 817.568(2)(c) and alleges that the relevant benefit, avoided payment, injury or fraud amounted to at least $100,000.
Traffic Stop Led to Arrest; $5,000 Bond Was Filed
On Oct. 26, a Margate police officer conducting a traffic stop learned Barnett was wanted on a warrant in the identity-fraud case and took her into custody. A Broward County magistrate found probable cause the following day, when a $5,000 surety appearance bond was filed.
Broward County Offers Alerts for Recorded Ownership Changes
The Broward County Property Appraiser’s Owner Alert service provides free notifications when its office processes a recorded document changing a property’s ownership. Owners can register to receive a link to the document and examine whether they authorized the change.
The property appraiser’s guidance advises owners who suspect a fraudulent deed to notify local law enforcement and seek legal advice. Its office cannot determine which competing ownership claim is legally valid; that question may require a court ruling.