Title Search is a fundamental investigative process that precedes any secure real estate transaction. Unlike simply viewing an extract, this service involves deep data retrieval and archival study. In Georgia, rights registered before 2010 are often stored in the paper archives of the Technical Inventory Bureau (TechBureau), which are not fully digitized. The title search service ensures the reconstruction of the full picture: who the original owner was, how boundaries changed over the years, and whether there are "forgotten" documents that could threaten your ownership. This is a technical and legal investigation essential when purchasing complex, old, or unregistered properties.
What does this service cover?
The title search service encompasses a wide range of data acquisition activities:
- Full Public Registry Search: Retrieving the current extract, cadastral plan, and all related documents (purchase agreements, gift deeds) from the electronic database.
- Archival Research: Searching for records pre-dating 2006 in the National Archive and TechBureau archives (e.g., housing orders, acceptance acts).
- Cadastral History Reconstruction: Studying the history of changes in land plot configuration to determine if there is any overlap with neighboring plots.
- Inheritance Case Search: Searching Notary Chamber databases to determine if an inheritance certificate was issued for the specific property.
- Utility Debt Check: Identifying subscriber numbers and searching for old debts with utility companies.
Common Real-World Scenarios
This service is particularly important in the following cases:
- Old "Italian" Courtyards: In Tbilisi, it is common for a house to have physically existed for over a century, but the documents are messy. Digging into old Soviet archives is necessary to confirm rights.
- Land Legalization: A person has possessed land for years but has no documents. A lawyer searches for household book records or acceptance acts in the archive to facilitate initial registration.
- Lost Documents: The owner has lost all papers. A lawyer restores documentation by finding duplicates from various institutions.
- Auction Purchase: Before a forced auction, an independent search is necessary to accurately determine what property is actually being sold and what burdens come with it.
Georgian Legal Framework
Title search is based on the Law of Georgia on Public Registry, which defines the publicity and accessibility of information. Working with archives is regulated by the Law on the National Archival Fund and National Archives. When retrieving data, lawyers are also guided by the General Administrative Code of Georgia (Freedom of Information chapter) to request public information from state agencies. When searching for personal data (e.g., inheritance files), the requirements of the Law on Personal Data Protection must be observed, often requiring the use of a lawyer's warrant.
Process: How does a specialist work?
The process begins with receiving initial information from the client (address, old cadastral code, owner's name). The lawyer uses special access to the authorized page of the Public Registry. If the information is not searchable electronically, the specialist physically goes to the archive (at the Public Service Hall or National Archive) and investigates old registers. It is often necessary to go on-site and organize measurement works to compare data. Based on the retrieved materials, a dossier is created that fully reflects the legal status of the property.
Why Legal.ge?
Data retrieval in Georgia can be a complex bureaucratic process, especially for older properties. Specialists registered on Legal.ge have experience working with archives and know where and how to find "hidden" information. They will save your time and nerves, providing accurate and verified information necessary for making the right decision. Trust experts in information retrieval.
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