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A title search is a review of the applicable provincial land registry to confirm who legally owns a property and to identify any liens, easements, or other registered claims against it before a purchase or mortgage closes.
A lawyer, notary, or title company searches the land registry to confirm the seller named on the registration matches the seller in the purchase agreement, and to flag anything registered against the property — undischarged mortgages, liens, easements or rights of way, and registered tax arrears.
Lenders normally require confirmation that title is clear before advancing mortgage funds, so the search is typically completed shortly before closing. In many transactions today, a title insurance policy supplements or substitutes for an exhaustive traditional search — see Title Insurance.
In Quebec, notaries perform the comparable search against the Quebec land register (registre foncier) as part of preparing the acte de vente, the deed of sale.
Runs on provincial land registries: the search checks the applicable provincial land registry or land titles system, since Canada has no single national property registry.
A lender condition: lenders normally require confirmation of clear title before advancing mortgage funds, so the search is typically completed just before closing.
Looks for registered claims: the search flags anything registered against the property, including undischarged mortgages, liens, easements, and tax arrears.
Quebec equivalent: notaries perform the comparable search against the Quebec land register (registre foncier) when preparing the acte de vente.
Definitions reflect Canadian federal and provincial rules as of the “Updated” date above. Not advice for any specific file.
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