What Is a Certificate of Title in Alberta and What Does It Show?

If you are buying or already own a home in Alberta, you will likely look at a copy of its title at some point, while the Government of Alberta keeps custody of all original titles. It is a dense page of legal wording, and it is easy to skim past the parts that matter most.

This article explains what the certificate is, what its main parts tell you, what it legally proves, and what it does not show. It is general information, not advice on your own property.

This article covers the law of Alberta.

What a certificate of title is

Under the Land Titles Act, a certificate of title is the record of the title to land kept by the Registrar. The Registrar must record on it the particulars of instruments, caveats and other dealings affecting the land.

Alberta's system is a Torrens system, run under the Land Titles Act, which is the framework for registering documents that create and end legal rights in property. In plain words, the government keeps the official record, so you do not have to trace ownership back through old paperwork.

Registration matters most for documents that pass an interest in land. Once a certificate of title has been granted, no instrument is effectual to pass an estate or interest in the land unless it is executed and registered under the Act. The exception is a leasehold of three years or less, which can pass without registration. A registered instrument becomes operative according to its tenor and intent.

What you will see on it

A land title shows the current owner, mortgages, caveats, easements, contractor claims against the property and other registered interests. The layout can look different from one title to another, but you can think of it in three parts.

• The owner: who is named as holding the land and the estate or interest they hold.
• The land: the legal description, which identifies the parcel.
• The registered interests: mortgages, caveats, easements, liens and similar items endorsed against the land.

The owner holds the land subject to the encumbrances, liens, estates and interests endorsed on the certificate. So a mortgage or easement listed on the title travels with the property.

Caveats deserve a close read. When the Registrar accepts a caveat, a memorandum of it is made on the certificate of title and notice is sent to the person against whose title it is registered. A caveat gives notice of a claim, but the Registrar does not decide whether the claim is valid, and an instrument registered after a caveat is subject to the caveator's claim.

What the certificate proves

A certificate of title is conclusive proof in all courts, against the Crown and all persons, that the named holder is entitled to the land for the estate or interest stated. That is a strong protection, and it is why buyers rely on it.

There are limits. The rule is subject to the exceptions in section 61 and to fraud. The conclusive effect does not protect against fraud.

The Act also deals with mistakes in the system itself. A person who sustains loss or damage through an omission, mistake or misfeasance of the Registrar may seek compensation. Whether that could apply to a particular situation depends on the facts, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer.

What the title may not show

Land under a certificate of title is subject, without being mentioned on the title, to matters such as unpaid taxes, public highways and rights of way granted under Alberta law. A search reflects only what has been registered, and interests can also arise without being on the title.

Municipal bylaws and development permits also affect what you can do with land, and those sit outside the title. A lawyer can help you check them.

How to get a current title

To get a current title search you need one of three things: a legal description, a land identification number code (LINC), or a title number. Titles can be searched through the Spatial Information System (SPIN2) or a registry agent.

Since May 29, 2025, you can also search and pay for titles in the Alberta Registry for Land Online (ARLO) by Plan/Block/Lot, title number, LINC or ATS legal description. Historical (cancelled) titles may need reference title numbers, the owner's name or a legal description, and some must be ordered from the relevant Land Titles and Surveys office. Online steps and screens may change over time.

What to do next

• Get a current copy of the title before you sign anything.
• Check that the owner's name matches the person selling.
• Read every registered interest and ask what each one means.
• Ask about matters that may not appear on the title, such as taxes and municipal requirements.
• Have a lawyer explain anything unclear, especially caveats and easements.

Frequently asked questions