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Searching the Registry of Deeds

Use this page for more information on how to search the Registry of Deeds for land that has not previously been registered in the Land Registry.

Registry of Deeds - Index of Names

The Registry of Deeds is a system of registration of documents relating to unregistered land -land that has not been registered with the Land Registry.

Under this system a written summary of the relevant document is lodged in the Registry of Deeds (ROD) with the original document. This summary, known as a Memorial, is retained in the Registry and the original document is returned to the person who lodged it.

Unlike the Land Registry, this Registry does not guarantee that any document registered is valid or has any legal effect - it merely records the document’s existence and its priority date.

However, if you know the name of a former owner, a search against that name will show whether a deed created by that person has been registered in ROD and, if so, what property it relates to.

Registry of Deeds records from 1 January 1990 to the present date have been fully digitised and are available to search in the Customer Information Centre.

The options available to search after this date are:

  • search by party name, Memorial number, vacate number, High Court number, Enforcement of Judgments Office number
  • search by multiple forename (for example making it possible to retrieve all records relating to a husband and wife in a single transaction)
  • view Memorial and abstract information

A search certificate can be provided as verification of search results.

For more information you should phone Land & Property Services (LPS) or visit one of the Customer Information Centres listed below:

  • Phone: 0300 200 7803 - (charged at local rate)
  • 0044 28 9051 4635 - if calling from outside Northern Ireland
Customer Information Centre
1st Floor, Lincoln Building
27-45 Great Victoria Street
Malone Lower
BELFAST
BT2 7SL
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Customer Information Centre
Academy House
121A Broughshane Street
Town Parks
BALLYMENA
BT43 6HY
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Customer Information Centre
Boaz House
19 Scarffe’s Entry
Dergmoney Lower
Omagh
BT78 1JE
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Customer Information Centre
Marlborough House
Central way
Tamnafiglassan
CRAIGAVON
BT64 1AD
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Opening hours are 9.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Thursday and 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Friday.

Searching paper records

The Names Index records from 1923 to 1989 are paper based.

The starting point for searching the paper records is the name of the Grantor. If you are looking for a transaction where you have bought a house ,the Grantor will be the person who sold you the property

It is not possible to search the paper records without the name of the Grantor of the transaction you seek.

If you do not know the name of the owner or the previous owner you may need to make further local enquiries of your own before you can carry out an effective search of the Names Index.

Alternatively a solicitor or law searcher may be able to give you further advice.

Search / Copy Document fees - Registry of Deeds:

  • £9.00 per search per 90 results for all records from 1 January 1990
  • £6.00 if using LandWeb Direct per search per 90 results for all records
  • £5.00 per uncertified copy Memorial
  • £15.00 per certified copy Memorial
  • free to search all records registered before 1 January 1990.
  • free for all uncertified/certified copy Memorials registered before 1 January 1990

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