What to Do If Your Property Title Is Missing

How to Recover a Lost Title: 4 Simple Steps
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If you can’t find the original title of your property, may it be a condominium, land property, or a house and lot, don’t lose hope. There’s a standard procedure in case of lost titles in the Philippines and it’s, in fact, simple and easy to do. With the guidance of a legal adviser, you can recover your property title through re-issuance of new owner’s duplicate copy of the title. This guide will give you the four steps to follow, the requirements, and fees to be settled throughout the process.
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4 Steps for the Re-issuance of a New Property Title

Stay calm if ever you found out that your property title is missing. Just do the following steps to get a new certified true copy of the title:

Step 1: Get an Affidavit of Loss. Go to a trusted lawyer and describe how you lost the title so he can make an Affidavit of Loss. Have it notarized.

Step 2: Bring the notarized Affidavit of Loss to the Registry of Deeds. Here, you can obtain a certified true copy of the title with lost title annotation by submitting the AoL from your lawyer. You can find the Registry of Deeds in the Municipal or City Hall in your area. They will annotate or write at the back of the original title about the lost title.

Step 3: Attend the court hearing. To do this, your lawyer needs to file a petition for the re-issuance of the new title. You will need the certified true copy of the title with annotation for lost title. In the hearing, you need to explain the reason for the lost title and that it is in good faith. If you win the case, you can proceed with the last step.

Step 4: Bring the court order to the Registry of Deeds. In the court order, it says that you should be given a new title. Therefore, you can now get the new owner’s duplicate copy of the title.

Requirements for Re-issuance of New TitleWhen obtaining a new property title from the Registry of Deeds, you need to submit a letter of request for the new title and pay the processing fee. You also need to submit other supporting documents including the survey plan, tax declaration, or any legal document that proves you are the owner of the property o your relationship with the registered owner of the property.
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Final ThoughtsIf you lost the original title, it doesn’t mean you lose the right to that property. Just follow the legal process and consult a lawyer to help you get a new title from the Registry of Deeds. Submit all the requirements to prove you have a right in the said property such as condo, land, or house and lot. You may contact us if you need assistance in listing your property for sale, or planning to buy a new house in the Philippines.