Losing a land title is a stressful experience for any property owner in the Philippines. Fortunately, the law provides a mechanism called the administrative reconstitution of title to address this issue without always needing to go to court.
What is Administrative Reconstitution of Title?
In simple terms, reconstitution of title is the process of reproducing a lost or destroyed certificate of title in its original form.
Under Republic Act No. 6732, administrative reconstitution is possible when the number of certificates lost or destroyed in the Registry of Deeds is at least ten percent (10%) of the total number of titles.
Who Can File for Title Restoration?
Property owners can initiate this process when there is clear evidence that the original record at the government office no longer exists.
Key requirements often include:
A formal, notarized petition addressed to the LRA.
A valid duplicate title in the possession of the reconstitution of title philippines owner.
A certified copy of the lost or destroyed certificate of title. reconstitution of title philippines
Tax declarations and latest tax clearance.
The Process of Administrative Reconstitution
To ensure your title is reconstitution of title philippines restored correctly, you must adhere to the following steps:
Filing the Petition: The owner or their authorized representative files the petition with the Register of Deeds where the property is located.
Review and Publication: reconstitution of title philippines The LRA will review the documents and may require publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approval: Once satisfied, the authority grants the restoration of the title.
Issuance: A new original title is created and filed in the registry's archives.
The Importance of Legal Assistance
Even though it is an administrative process, the documentation required can be overwhelming for many.
A single mistake in the filing process can result in the rejection of your application.
Final Thoughts
Restoring a lost title is crucial administrative reconstitution of title for any future transactions, such as selling or mortgaging the property.