The Land Registry is the government department established under the Registered Land Ordinance that is responsible for recording all land transactions in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI). 

The Turks & Caicos Islands Land Registry records the details of all land ownership information in the Turks & Caicos Islands, together with a Registry Map which indicates (and in certain cases defines) the boundaries of each individually owned parcel of land. The Registrar of Lands is responsible for administering the Land Registry in accordance with the Ordinance.

The Land Registry was created as a result of the Land Adjudication process, during the late 1960s. In 1967, it was decided that guaranteed titles were necessary for owning land. All ands within the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) were surveyed and a complete adjudication process verifying the boundaries and owners of the properties were done. This meant that persons had to present their deeds, receipts or other documentary evidence of ownership to verify their entitlement to land. Statutory declarations were obtained in support of the claim to ownership. The person’s persons employed by government in the land adjudication process were also required to issue documentation.

In excess of 4000 Land Adjudication Records are housed in the Land Registry Department. Many of the records go as far back as the 1800’s and tell the history of the TCI. They also reveal the history of many families within the islands. Many historical events and traditions are expressed in these documents. They are to be regarded as a very important part of the history and foundation of land law in the TCI.

The process replaced the registration of deeds with a registration of title system, which registers all land. The most important single component of this system is that the Turks and Caicos Islands Government guarantees title. Unlike many other jurisdictions, all the land in the Turks and Caicos Islands is registered thereby brining certainty to land ownership.

Today, the Land Registry is responsible for recording all land transactions in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Land Registry processes applications for the registration of transfers of property, charges, restrictions, leases, easements, powers of attorney, restrictive agreements and cautions among other things. The Land Registry holds a comprehensive source of property information for over 30,000 parcels of land including details of ownership, charges and rights.

In addition to the registration of land transactions, the Land Registry also keeps the following records:

• Land Registers and Registry Maps, and supporting documentation;
• An Application Book of all documents presented for Registration;
• An Index of Owners of land, leases and charges
• A Register of Powers of Attorneys

The documents at the Land Registry are public documents and may be viewed upon an application and the payments of a fee.

The Land Registry will be customer oriented, dedicated to providing land registration and information service with the use of highly developed human resources and information technology so as to ensure continuous improvement in service quality and delivery to our customers.

To provide efficient and transparent land titling service that guarantees security of tenure.