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Search Certificates
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Law, Cap. 224 Article 51A
The Director of the Department of Lands & Surveys may provide any "interested person" with any information standing in the Land Register or in any other file or book kept with any District Lands Office.
This information is provided in the form of a certificate, called "SEARCH CERTIFICATE".
Applications
A search certificate is issued only after the respective application has been filed and the prescribed fees have been paid. The application is filed on Form N.50 with any District Lands Office.
Persons qualified to file an application
Only an interested person or his/her agent or attorney may file an application to be issued a "search certificate"
"Interested persons" means the owner of the property, his heirs, devisees and legatees, the owner of any trees, buildings or other objects on the land which belongs to another and vice versa, the person entitled to any right or interest in the immovable property, who satisfies the Director that he is a prospective purchaser or mortgagor, the plaintiff in any action against the owner of such property, the professional valuer who may require certain information for purposes of the valuing certain immovable property in a case relating to compulsory acquisition and includes any person not thus specified to whom the Director may specifically order that any information be furnished".
Fees
The fees payable to the Department of Lands & Surveys vary and depend on the information requested by each applicant (see Fees and Charges).
Note: An additional fee (transmission fee) is levied for every application filed with a Lands Office other than the office of the District where the register or the book containing the information, is kept.
Issue of Search Certificate
Search certificates are issued on Form N51 by the Lands Office of the District where the record or the book containing the information is kept. They are signed and stamped with the seal of the Department and delivered or posted to the applicant.
Time required for the processing of the application: 1-30 days depending on the type of information requested.
Note: At the time of filing of any application for the issue of a search certificate, all applicants are advised to produce their identity card and give the particulars of the property for which the information is requested as well as provide any documents proving that they are "interested persons" (e.g. certificate of registration, certificate of death and heirs etc.). Where the information requested concerns the properties of a specific person, full particulars of his name, place of origin, full address and whenever possible, his identity number should be given. |
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