Losing a land title is a stressful experience for any property owner in the Philippines. To resolve this, the Philippine legal system offers a pathway known as the reconstitution of title, allowing owners to restore their legal documents.
Defining Administrative Reconstitution
Reconstitution refers to the legal restoration of a land title that was lost, burned, or destroyed while in the custody of the Register of Deeds.
According to Philippine law, the administrative route is an alternative to judicial proceedings, provided that a significant portion of the registry's records were lost due to fire, flood, or other disasters.
When Can You Apply for Reconstitution of Title in the Philippines?
You can file for a reconstitution of title in the Philippines if the original copy kept by the Register of Deeds was lost or destroyed, but you still possess the owner's duplicate copy.
To begin the process, you will typically need:
A verified petition for reconstitution.
The original owner’s copy of the TCT or OCT.
Official proof that the title was indeed destroyed in the registry.
Tax declarations and latest tax clearance.
The Process of Administrative Reconstitution
Navigating the reconstitution of title requires following a specific government workflow.
Initial Application: Present your documents to the registrar for initial evaluation.
Review administrative reconstitution of title and Publication: The LRA will review the documents and may require publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Issuance of Order: If the petition is found to be in order, an Order of Reconstitution will be issued.
Issuance: A new original title is created and filed in the registry's archives.
The Importance of administrative reconstitution of title Legal Assistance
Even though it is an administrative process, the documentation required can be overwhelming for many. reconstitution of title
A single mistake in the filing process can result in the rejection of your application.
Final Thoughts reconstitution of title
Restoring a lost title is administrative reconstitution of title crucial for any future transactions, such as selling or mortgaging the property.