A certificate of title reflects the Register of land (the Register) maintained by the Recorder of Titles pursuant to section 33 of the Land Titles Act 1980 at a specific point in time and displays some (but not necessarily all) of the registered estates or interests in land.
Currently, certificates of title are required in the conveyancing process in Tasmania, with the certificate of title required to be lodged alongside specific Registry Instruments or other Documents. The Register is and has always been conclusive evidence of estates or interests in land for Tasmania.
For more information about the Register, refer to The Register webpage.
Electronic conveyancing is available in Tasmania and can be used by producing a certificate of title utilising the appropriate production procedure available through the Tasmania Online Land Dealings (TOLD) system.
Certificates of title will be removed - 1 September 2026
The decision has been formally made to remove certificates of title from the land titling processes of the Land Titles Office on and from 1 September 2026. The removal will be for all certificates of title (excluding general law titles).
Future Status of Certificates of Title
From 1 September 2026 onwards
The Land Titles Act 1980 allows the Recorder of Titles to stop issuing certificates of title upon the registration of a Registry Instrument or Document and also allows the Recorder of Titles to dispense with the requirement for certificates of title to be lodged with the Land Titles Office.
The Land Titles Office has implemented reforms to the conveyancing process to promote a safer and more secure process. These reforms introduced various requirements including Verification of Identity and right to deal for parties to a conveyancing transaction, the requirement for legal practitioners and licensed conveyancers to obtain specific authorisation from their Clients, and the requirement for relevant parties to retain evidence.
Further activity has been undertaken to:
Evaluate and address all implications of removing certificates of title
Amend Registry Instruments and other Documents to include relevant Certifications
Amend Registry Instruments and other Documents to permit the Authorised Representative to sign; and
Obtain sufficient evidence from Compliance Examinations undertaken demonstrating the requisite standard of compliance with the Recorder's Directions.
The successful implementation of these reforms, together with other updates to the conveyancing process, allow the removal of certificates of title. The Register remains the sole source of truth for estates and interests in land in Tasmania.
The conveyancing process reforms are discussed on the Reforms to Conveyancing Process webpage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why will certificates of title no longer be required?
The Land Titles Office introduced a safer and more secure process which removes the need for certificates of title. Certificates of title carry an inherent risk of fraud, where a fraudulent person may produce a certificate of title while claiming to be the person on the title. The introduced requirements, which include Verification of Identity and verification of right to deal, reduce the risk of a fraud being perpetuated.
How do I prove that I own my property when certificates of title are no longer required?
The Register of land (the Register) maintained by the Recorder of Titles pursuant to section 33 of the Land Titles Act 1980 is and has always been conclusive evidence of estates or interests in land for Tasmania. Possessing a certificate of title is not conclusive proof of a registered estate or interest in land, rather the certificate of title shows an extract of the Register at a particular point in time. If a person wishes to view registered estates or interests relating to specific land, a copy of a title search for that specific land is available via the LIST (Land Information System Tasmania) website.
To transact with property, parties to a conveyancing transaction are required to have verifications undertaken about their identity and right to deal. This will typically be conducted between a person and their bank or conveyancing professional – a legal practitioner or licensed conveyancer, and may require the production of relevant identity and property-related documents. This process drastically reduces the risk of fraudulent transactions through identity fraud, as each party to a transaction will have their identity and right to deal verified by the bank or conveyancing professional.
What should I do with my certificate of title?
Status of certificates of title until and including 31 August 2026:
You may be required to lodge a certificate of title with your Registry Instruments or Documents. Any certificate of title you hold should be securely stored.
Status of certificates of title on and after 1 September 2026:
The certificate of title may be retained for personal or sentimental purposes, however, on and from 1 September 2026 it is not required to be lodged with Registry Instruments or Documents. The certificate of title may be relevant as part-only evidence when verifying a person’s right to deal alongside additional evidence for a period of time after this date.
My legal practitioner or licensed conveyancer has my certificate of title on my behalf – what happens once it is no longer required?
As your legal practitioner or licensed conveyancer has the certificate of title on your behalf and it is still your personal property, your legal practitioner or licensed conveyancer may make contact with you requesting direction on whether you want your certificate of title to be given to you or if you wish for it to be securely destroyed.
How can I be sure of the security of the Register and know that it reflects current registered estates and interests in my land?
The Land Titles Office considers the security and integrity of the Register of land (the Register) maintained by the Recorder of Titles pursuant to section 33 of the Land Titles Act 1980 to be of paramount importance. The Register records estates and interests in land and has recorded these electronically since the 1990s. The security of the Register is underpinned by the Tasmanian Government’s Cyber Security Policy and standards. The Land Titles Office actively monitors any unusual activity identified and stores data back-ups of the Register.
How can I check my estate or interest in land is recorded in the Register?
If a person wishes to view an extract of the Register for their land, including any registered estates or interests, a copy of a title search for that land is available via the LIST (Land Information System Tasmania) website.
Will certificates of title be of use in the future?
Use until and including 31 August 2026:
You may be required to lodge a certificate of title as part of the appropriate production process or together with your Registry Instruments or Documents. Any certificate of title you hold should be securely stored.
Use on and after 1 September 2026:
Although a certificate of title may be relevant as part-only evidence when verifying a person’s right to deal in the future alongside additional evidence for a period of time from 1 September 2026, a certificate of title alone will not conclusively establish or verify a person’s right to deal with an estate or interest in land. Certificates of title will not be required with any Land Registry Instrument or Document lodged on or after 1 September 2026.
What if I am using a certificate of title to claim rights or security over land which are not registered and recorded in the Register?
If a claim or interest is currently unregistered, all persons with such claims or interests should make appropriate alternative arrangements prior to the removal of certificates of title (refer also above to the section Status of Certificates of Title).
How does the removal of certificates of titles impact general law title?
There is no impact on general law title due to the removal of certificates of title. The requirements for bringing land under the Land Titles Act 1980 are unchanged. To bring land under the Act, General Law Deeds or instruments must still be lodged as required. General Law Deeds should be retained and safely stored as they continue to have evidentiary value.