The status of agricultural land in Georgian law is not a formality but a decision-bearing detail: the agrarian status of a plot directly determines whether an alien may acquire the land. This page explains how that status is verified under the legislation on the Public Registry: where the extract comes from, what the presumption of reliability of registered data means, and when registration may be refused.
The extract — the instrument of verification
An extract from the registry of rights to immovable property is prepared on the basis of the unified bank of registry data and reflects the registered, valid data concerning the immovable property at the moment of its preparation. The law establishes a decisive rule here: the extract is issued to any person, and in a transaction or other legal action on immovable property — except the determination of inheritance rights — the interested person's authority is established only by an extract from the Public Registry. Verifying the status is thus not a preference but a legal necessity: without the extract the authority to transact cannot be established.
The presumption of reliability
Towards the data registered in the Public Registry a presumption of reliability operates — until the data are recognised as void, invalidated or non-existent under the procedure established by legislation. The practical meaning is clear: the status recorded in the extract — including the designation of the plot — is treated as true, and invoking the contrary is possible only through lawful exclusion. That is why the preparation of a transaction always begins with a fresh extract.
Particulars of registering rights to an agricultural plot
The registration of a right to an agricultural plot proceeds under additional statutory requirements: registration is carried out with regard to the requirements of the Organic Law on Ownership of Agricultural Land and other normative acts. On registering the ownership of a legal person, where the data on partners cannot be established from registry entries, the registering body must be presented documentation identifying the dominant partner; the same extends to mortgages and obligations connected with the origin of ownership. For an entity that is not a legal person, documentation on its members is presented. Responsibility for the accuracy of the data lies with the compiler — incorrect information becomes a ground for cancelling the registration.
Grounds for refusing registration
Refusal within the registration procedure is also counted by the law: the registering body refuses where the right is not subject to registration; where a registered right or restriction excludes the new registration; where the registration document was issued by an unauthorised person; where the annulment of the document has been established; where an act of a court or arbitration in force has been presented that provides for refusal; where at the moment of the request ownership has already passed to a new owner; or where the request is identical to the registered data. This list gives the transacting party a preliminary risk map.
What is often left out of account
Two mistakes dominate in practice: relying on an old extract when the status or rights have already changed; and transferring foreign land-registration models — the systems of other states, including the American title-insurance model, do not operate in Georgia: the source here is the Public Registry and its extract. Obtaining a fresh extract before the transaction and examining its content is precisely the step that reveals the risk of agrarian status at the earliest stage.
The content of the extract is also defined by law: an extract from the registry of rights to immovables is prepared on the basis of the unified data bank and reflects the data registered and in force in the registries of rights to immovables, of public-law restrictions, of tax pledges/mortgages and of debtors. This means that a single document shows the full legal picture of the plot — its designation, its restrictions and its encumbrances — and precisely therefore every column of it is read in preparing the transaction.
Frequently asked questions
Below we answer the most common questions about verifying land status.
Where do I learn a plot's status?
From a Public Registry extract — it reflects the registered, valid data at the moment of preparation and is issued to any person.
Why is the extract necessary?
In a transaction the interested person's authority is established only by the extract — except the determination of inheritance rights.
Can the registered data be doubted?
The presumption of reliability operates until the data are recognised as void, invalidated or non-existent in the established manner.
What does registering an agricultural plot involve?
The requirements of the Organic Law and other acts; for a legal person — documentation of the dominant partner, with responsibility resting on the compiler.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team verifies the plot's status on the basis of a fresh extract, assesses the restrictions corresponding to the designation, and ensures the transaction is prepared so that the risk of agrarian status is closed documentarily. In a written consultation you receive a conclusion on your specific plot. Contact us through the Legal.ge website.