Land Registry Questions & Contacts

How do I get a copy of my deed?

Property information as well as copies of deeds, documents and plans can be obtained at any Land Registration Office. Location and contact information for each Land Registration Office can be found at the Office Locations. (select 'Land Registration' from the service drop down menu). You can also be directed to the appropriate Land Registration Office by calling Toll-free 1-800-670-4357.

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How do I change the name on my property?

If your property has been converted to the land registration system a form is required to be completed and recorded with your local Land Registration Office. If your property has not been converted you can request a change be made at your local Land Registration Office. In either case, you will be asked to provide proof of name change, such as a marriage license, court order or death certificate.

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How do I find a lawyer?

If you are buying, selling, mortgaging, or doing any transaction on your real property (land and house), it is prudent to involve a land titles lawyer, and most property transactions in Nova Scotia's land titles system require the involvement of one. The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society website has a tool which allows you to search for lawyers by name or location.   Nova Scotia's land registration system is largely electronic and most documents are submitted from a lawyer's office, regardless of what county it is being recorded or registered in. Therefore the lawyer providing professional services to complete the transaction can be anywhere in Nova Scotia; he/she is not restricted to being in the county in which the affected property is located.   The Nova Scotia Barristers' Society is the governing body for the legal profession in Nova Scotia. Under the provisions of the Legal Profession Act, the Society is responsible for both the licensing and discipline of the profession.

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How do I find a surveyor?

You may need the services of a Nova Scotia Land Surveyor. Professional Land Surveying includes advising on, reporting on, supervising of or conducting surveys to determine the horizontal and vertical position of any point and the direction and length of any line required to control, establish, locate, define or describe the extent or limitations of title. The Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors (ANSLS) exists in order to serve and protect the public interest, preserve the integrity of the profession, and maintain public confidence in the ability of the profession to regulate itself.

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What is the land registration system?

Under the land registration system information is indexed according to parcels of land, instead of by the owner’s name. Tying ownership and interests in land to a particular parcel makes searching simpler and less prone to confusion and error. Under Land Registration, the registered owner is, by law, conclusively the owner of the parcel.

In the old registry system, ownership can only be determined after a review of all relevant title documents deposited at the Registry of Deeds. Lawyers then give their opinion as to who owns and has legal rights in the property (opinion on title). After a parcel is converted to the Land Registration System, there is no need to do an historic review of title – a person wishing to know who owns a parcel of land simply has to do a quick check in the system database to see who is listed as the registered owner. This eliminates the wasteful, expensive, and repetitive need to search the historic title to land each time it is transferred, subdivided, or mortgaged.

The system also provides online links to other land-related information, such as outstanding municipal tax balances, reducing the costs associated with distributing this information. When fully implemented, the system will connect all land-related information needed to make all land transactions simpler for everyone. Since land transactions are the chief economic drivers in any market economy, this new system will help improve the economy and benefit all Nova Scotians.

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When does property get converted to the land registration system?

Any parcel of land that is being sold, subdivided (involving 3 or more parcels in total) or mortgaged must be converted into the land registration system. As well, anyone who owns property may voluntarily convert their property into the land registration system. If you are getting a mortgage, you may obtain one before your property is converted, however, the mortgage will not bind your property until your parcel is converted. For this reason, your financial institution may require you to convert your property before it releases the mortgage funds. Please see your lender for details.

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How much does it cost to convert a property to the land registration system?

There is a $100.00 registration fee for converting a property – in addition the government charges the same document filing fee for converted and unconverted properties. Lawyers or surveyors will charge a fee for their professional services related to the added one-time steps required to convert your property, which are determined by each lawyer and surveyor and not by the government. If you are using the services of a lawyer who has previously completed a title search on your property, there may be a savings. As with any service, it is important for consumers to ask in advance what those fees will be. Do not hesitate to ask your lawyer to review with you fees that will be charged for your transaction.

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How do I know if my property has been converted to the land registration system?

To determine if your property has been converted to the land registration system please contact the Land Registration Office in your county.

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What is Property Online?

Property Online (POL) is an internet browser application that provides online access to land ownership and related information collected through the province’s Land Registration Offices and other sources. The Property Online database, which is available to subscribers, contains ownership information, including property maps for the entire province. Lawyers and surveyors who work in the land registration system must subscribe to Property Online in order to submit Applications for Registration and/or Parcel Description Certification Applications. For more information please visit www.nspropertyonline.ca.

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How do I contact Property Online?

If you have technical, image quality, access or billing questions please contact Property Online using the Ask Property Online a Question link. Please note, this service does not answer legal or procedural questions.

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