The Short Answer

Possibly—under Pennsylvania law, a transfer involving a forged signature can be challenged, and a court can declare the conveyance void and order it canceled of record in the right circumstances. The key issues are who owned the interest that was transferred (for example, a decedent’s interest), who the current buyer is, and what evidence exists to prove the forgery.

What Pennsylvania Law Says

When real estate is tied to an estate (for example, a decedent’s interest was conveyed after death or through heirs), Pennsylvania provides a specific Orphans’ Court process that can be used to clear title and unwind a “fraudulent conveyance,” including one caused by a forged signature. Separately, Pennsylvania criminal law defines forgery and treats forged deeds as serious misconduct—often a key factual foundation in a civil case to set aside the transfer.

The Statute

The primary law governing this issue (in an estate/Orphans’ Court context) is 20 Pa.C.S. § 3546.

This statute authorizes the court, after proper notice, to declare a fraudulent conveyance of a decedent’s interest in real estate “void, unenforceable and canceled of record,” and it expressly includes transfers that occur due to a forgery of the grantor’s signature. See 20 Pa.C.S. § 3546(b), (i).

In addition, Pennsylvania’s forgery statute makes it a crime to execute or transfer a writing so it purports to be the act of another who did not authorize it—expressly including deeds and similar documents affecting legal rights. See 18 Pa.C.S. § 4101.

If you want more background on how these disputes commonly arise in estate situations, see our related article: How Can I Set Aside a Fraudulent Deed on Estate Property in Pennsylvania?.

Why You Should Speak with an Attorney

Even when a forged signature seems obvious, successfully undoing a recorded transfer is rarely simple. Legal outcomes often depend on:

• Strict Deadlines: The timing can matter a lot in estate-related real estate disputes. For example, 20 Pa.C.S. § 3546 is triggered only in specific situations (such as when no estate letters were granted and one year has passed, or when a personal representative hasn’t filed an account within six years).
• Burden of Proof: You typically need strong evidence (documents, handwriting comparisons, witness testimony, notary/closing records) to prove the signature was unauthorized and to persuade a court to cancel a deed of record.
• Innocent Buyer / Title Issues: If the property has already been resold or mortgaged, additional parties (buyers, lenders, title insurers) may be involved, and the strategy can change dramatically.

Trying to handle this alone can lead to missed notice requirements, incomplete parties, or a court order that doesn’t actually fix the title problem—leaving you with an expensive dispute that still blocks a sale or refinance.

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Disclaimer: This article provides general information under Pennsylvania law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed attorney.