Get a Copy of Your Title Deeds
“Title deeds” traditionally meant the bundle of paper documents proving ownership of a property. For registered property in England and Wales, the title register and title plan are now the definitive record. If you are searching for a copy of your title deeds, the register and plan bundle is usually what you need.
What people mean by “title deeds”
Before land registration became widespread, ownership of a property was proved by a bundle of paper documents passed from owner to owner: conveyances, transfers, mortgages, contracts and related papers. That bundle was the title deeds, and losing it was a serious problem.
Registration changed this. When a property is registered, HM Land Registry records the ownership in the title register and shows the general extent of the land on the title plan. From that point on, those two documents — not the old paper bundle — are the definitive record of the registered title.
Registered or unregistered — why it matters
| Registered property | Unregistered property | |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of ownership | The title register held by HM Land Registry | The paper deeds themselves |
| If the paper deeds are lost | Ownership unaffected — the register is the record | A significant problem; take professional advice |
| What you can order | Copies of the register and plan, and sometimes filed documents | No register or plan exists to retrieve |
Most property in England and Wales is now registered, particularly anything sold or mortgaged in recent decades. A small proportion of land — often land held by the same family or organisation for a long time — remains unregistered.
Searching for “copy of title deeds”? Order the register and plan
If your property is registered, the closest modern equivalent of the old deeds bundle is the title register together with the title plan. The register shows the registered owner, tenure, rights, restrictions, covenants and charges where recorded; the plan shows the general extent of the land. The register and plan bundle supplies both for one price.
What about the old paper documents?
Where the register refers to an older document — a conveyance imposing covenants, for example — a copy may be held as a filed document, and it may be possible to order a copy. Availability varies from title to title and has to be checked. See filed documents for how this works, or contact us with the details and we will quote before charging anything.
The original paper bundle itself, if it still exists, is most often held by the solicitor who acted on a past purchase, a former lender, or the owner. We cannot supply original documents — only copies of what is held against the registered title.
Frequently asked questions
What are title deeds?
Historically, title deeds were the bundle of paper documents — conveyances, mortgages, contracts and similar — that proved ownership of a property. For registered property, the title register and title plan held by HM Land Registry are now the definitive record of ownership.
I have lost my title deeds. Have I lost proof of ownership?
If the property is registered, no. Ownership is recorded in the title register, so losing old paper deeds does not affect it. A copy of the register and plan gives you the current registered record. Unregistered land is different — paper deeds still matter there, and you should take professional advice.
Which documents should I order if I want my title deeds?
For a registered property, most people searching for a copy of their title deeds need the title register and title plan bundle. Together they show the registered owner, tenure, rights, restrictions and charges where recorded, and the general extent of the land.
Can I get the original old paper deeds?
Sometimes documents referred to in the register — such as old conveyances or transfers — are held as filed documents and copies can be requested, but availability varies. We cannot supply original paper deeds, and original bundles are often with a solicitor, a lender or lost.
What if my property is unregistered?
A small proportion of land in England and Wales is unregistered. There is no title register or plan for it, so paper deeds remain the evidence of ownership. If your land appears to be unregistered, we contact you to discuss options, which may include a refund in line with our refund policy.
Do the register and plan replace my deeds for a sale or remortgage?
For registered property, conveyancers work from the registered title, so the register and plan are usually what a sale or remortgage relies on. Your solicitor will tell you if any older filed document is also needed.
Related guides
Order the modern equivalent of your title deeds
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