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What is land registration?

Land registration is the process of recording ownership of land or property with HM Land Registry. Once registered, your title is guaranteed by the state and stored electronically - making it easier to prove ownership, protect against fraud, and manage your estate.

We can help with

Registering your property after completion
We’ll submit the application and send you the official Title Information Document confirming your ownership.
Voluntary first registration
If your land or property is currently unregistered, we can help you register it voluntarily - unlocking a range of benefits.
Reconstructing title where deeds are missing
We’ll guide you through the process of proving ownership and applying for possessory title if your original deeds have been lost or destroyed.

Benefits of first registration

Your title is guaranteed by HM Land Registry
Protection against property fraud
No risk of losing paper deeds - everything is stored digitally
Easier to sell or transfer your property in the future
Helps resolve any unknown title issues early
Supports better estate planning and record keeping
25% discount on Land Registry fees for voluntary registration

What if the deeds are missing?

If your deeds are lost, we’ll help you:

Provide a Statement of Truth
Explaining how and when the deeds were lost, with supporting evidence.
Reconstruct the title
Using any available copies, solicitor records, or mortgage documents. We’ll also gather evidence of your possession (e.g. utility bills, plans, or surveys).
Prove your identity
As part of the application process.

In most cases, the Land Registry will grant a possessory title, which can be upgraded to absolute title after 12 years. If you plan to sell before then, we can arrange an indemnity policy to protect the buyer.

Why Choose Porter Dodson?

Specialist advice on all aspects of land registration

Support with complex cases, including missing deeds

Joined-up service with our private client and property teams

Offices across Somerset, Devon and Dorset, with remote support available nationwide

Reena Raval is well known as the most knowledgeable and experienced conveyancing solicitor in the South West. That reputation, in our experience, is fully justified. Reena grasped all the issues and negotiated, on our behalf, with ‘the other side’. Reena is kind, efficient and experienced. My wife and I are very, very grateful and recommend her without hesitation.

Nicholas

Consistently high level professional competence on a routine legal matter effectively delivered by Louise Wootton.

Tony

My wife and I used Porter Dodson for conveyancing on the recommendation of our estate agent, and we are vey glad that we did. Reena and her team kept us up to date and explained in detail the process of selling our property. Reena had to deal with both the solicitor of our purchaser and also the solicitor of the management company. She did so with skill and patience when the other two solicitors at were not, at times, always up to speed. We have also employed Porter and Dodson to act as conveyancers for the purchase of our new build. I expect this transaction will go equally as smoothly. I can certainly recommend this company.

Cliff

Very good experience with our home sale and purchase, despite having difficulties with the online conveyancers at the bottom of the chain, Reena Raval and Beckie Old persisted and eventually succeeded. Well Done.

Alan