How to Get a Copy of Your Deed and Transfer After an Ontario Closing

You have the keys, but you may not be holding anything that says you own the home. In Ontario, ownership is recorded in the land registry system, so there is often no paper deed to put in a drawer.

This article explains what documents exist after closing, where to get copies, what they cost, and what a lawyer's reporting letter usually covers.

What proves you own your home in Ontario

When your purchase closes, your lawyer registers the transfer, which is the document that moves title from the seller to you. An electronic conveyance is treated as tendered when it is submitted under Part III of the Land Registration Reform Act.

The parcel register is the record of the property. It shows the registered owner and the registered documents, such as mortgages. A copy of the parcel register and a copy of the registered transfer are useful records to keep. Which one an institution wants depends on your situation, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer.

Land transfer tax and closing

The person who tenders a conveyance for registration in Ontario pays land transfer tax on the value of the consideration, and it is payable when the conveyance is tendered for registration or before. In practice, land transfer tax is paid on closing through the buyer's lawyer, not later.

Ontario's provincial rates are 0.5% up to $55,000, 1.0% from $55,000 to $250,000, 1.5% from $250,000 to $400,000, and 2.0% above $400,000, with 2.5% on the portion above $2,000,000 for land with one or two single-family residences. First-time buyers may qualify for a refund of up to $4,000, which must be claimed within 18 months of registration. Keep your closing statement, since it records the tax paid.

How to get copies and what they cost

Your lawyer can usually send you copies of the registered documents. You can also order copies yourself through the land registry system. Fees listed as effective November 3, 2025 include the following. Check the current schedule before ordering, since fees change.

A certified copy is the version to ask for if a bank, court or other body wants official proof. Registration of documents is Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but Teraview searches are available outside those hours, including weekends and holidays. The hours come from a 2012 bulletin and should be confirmed.

What a reporting letter usually contains

After closing, your lawyer normally sends a reporting letter. It is a summary of the purchase. Contents vary by firm and by transaction, but it commonly covers the following.

• What was registered, such as the transfer and any mortgage.
• The final figures, including any taxes and adjustments paid.
• Any follow-up items, such as a discharge of the seller's mortgage that is still to be registered.
• Reminders about insurance, property tax and keeping your documents safe.
• Information about any title insurance policy that was arranged.

Title insurance is regulated. Residential title insurance can be bought through a lawyer, a title insurance company or an agent or broker, and policies cover title risks such as fraud and forgery and include legal expense coverage for defending title. If a policy was bought, keep it with your closing documents.

What to do next

• Read your reporting letter and ask about anything unclear.
• Ask your lawyer for copies of the registered transfer and parcel register.
• Order a certified copy if an institution needs official proof.
• Store your closing statement, title insurance policy and mortgage documents together.
• If you may qualify for the first-time buyer refund, check the 18-month claim window.
• Contact your lawyer if the parcel register shows a name, address or registration that looks wrong.

Frequently asked questions