Lost Certificate of Title: What Property Owners Should Do

If an old paper Certificate of Title has been lost or destroyed, the correct response depends on the state or territory and whether that paper certificate still has any legal role in the current land-title system.

Do not assume you need a replacement paper certificate

Modern registers are electronic in many jurisdictions. NSW abolished paper Certificates of Title in 2021, while other states use different arrangements. Start by checking the current registry requirements for the property.

Obtain current title information if that is what you need

If your immediate goal is to confirm current ownership or registered interests, a current title search may be the relevant record rather than replacement of an old document.

Keep historical and current records separate

An old paper title may be useful as a historical document, but it should not automatically be treated as evidence of the current registered position.

For a transaction, get advice before taking action

If the missing document is connected with a sale, transfer, mortgage, estate or other legal process, contact the relevant land registry and your conveyancer or solicitor. Requirements can differ significantly by jurisdiction and circumstance.

Frequently asked questions

Can I always order a replacement paper title?

No. The current process depends on the jurisdiction and the role of paper certificates there.

What if I only need current ownership information?

A current title search may be the relevant record for that purpose.

Official sources

Titles Queensland · NSW Land Registry Services · Land.Vic · Landgate · Land Services SA · Service Tasmania · Access Canberra · Northern Territory Land Titles Office. Last reviewed: 8 September 2026.

A title search reports information recorded in the relevant land-title register at the time represented by the search. Later dealings may change the register.

Title Now is an independent property-document ordering service. It is not a government department, land registry, law firm, conveyancing practice or surveying business. This information is general and does not constitute legal, conveyancing, planning or surveying advice.