- A title search shows who currently holds title and which registered interests, such as mortgages and liens, are attached to the property.
- ISC Quick Search shows only currently active titles, so previous owners and removed interests need the advanced Search tool.
- Judgments are tracked separately in the Judgment Registry, so a title alone may not give the full picture.
Before you buy a property, or before you refinance or sell one, it helps to know exactly what is registered against it. A title search is the usual way to find out. It tells you who the registered owner is and what other claims are recorded on the land.
This article explains in plain words what a title search is in Saskatchewan, how the ISC search tools differ, and how to read what you find. It is general information, and a lawyer can confirm how a particular title affects your deal.
This article covers the law of Saskatchewan.
What a title search is
In Saskatchewan, land ownership is recorded in a public registry. A title is the registry record for a parcel of land. A title search means looking up that record to see who is registered as owner and what else is registered against the property.
ISC is the organization whose online tools are used to search these records. ISC Quick Search finds currently active titles by parcel number, title number, owner name or land description, and lets you view a title image or request a certified print.
Quick Search and the advanced Search tool
The two tools do different jobs. Quick Search is built for current information. It does not show previous owners or interests that were removed, and the advanced Search tool covers those.
| Tool | What it covers | What it leaves out |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Search | Currently active titles, searchable by parcel number, title number, owner name or land description | Previous owners and interests that were removed |
| Advanced Search | Previous owners and removed interests | Check ISC for the details of what each search returns |
If you need a title copy that you can rely on formally, Quick Search lets you request a certified print.
What you will see on a title
A title shows the registered owner and the interests registered against the land. Registered interests are any right, interest or estate, legal or equitable, recognized at law and less than title. In everyday terms, they are other people's claims on the property that do not amount to ownership.
- Mortgages and liens appear as interests.
- A title lock is a prohibition on the title.
- Other registered interests may be listed, so read each entry and ask what it means for your purchase.
Registered interests do not always stay on a title forever. Under the Land Titles Regulations, 2001, the Registrar can issue a notice that a registered interest will lapse 30 days after the notice is sent unless a court order extending the registration is registered. After that, the Registrar registers a discharge on application if no extending order is registered. Whether this applies to an interest on your title depends on the facts, so a lawyer can confirm.
If something on the title is unfamiliar, do not guess. Ask your lawyer to explain what it is, who holds it and whether it will be removed before closing.
What a title search does not tell you on its own
Judgments are tracked separately in the Judgment Registry. That means a judgment against an owner may not be visible on the title itself, so a thorough check usually involves more than one search.
A title search also gives you a picture of the registry at one moment. Things can change between the day you search and the day you close, so it is worth confirming the current position again closer to closing. How and when that is done in your deal depends on the facts, and your lawyer can confirm it.
A title search is also not the same as a home inspection or a review of a condominium corporation's finances. It speaks to registered legal claims, not the physical condition of the property.
What to do next
- Get the parcel number, title number or land description from the listing or the offer.
- Run a Quick Search to see the current title, and request a certified print if you need one.
- Note every mortgage, lien, title lock and other interest listed.
- Ask whether a judgment search is needed, since judgments are tracked separately.
- If you need previous owners or removed interests, ask about the advanced Search tool.
- Send what you find to your lawyer well before closing so any problems can be raised with the seller.
In a standard Law Society offer-to-purchase template, the purchaser pays the Land Titles Registry fees to register the property in the purchaser's name and to register the purchaser's mortgage. Your own offer may say something different, so read it carefully.
If you are an owner reading your own title, compare it with what you expect. Any interest you do not recognize is worth raising with a lawyer promptly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I search a title myself?
ISC Quick Search lets you look up currently active titles by parcel number, title number, owner name or land description, and view a title image. Reading what the entries mean is where a lawyer's help is often useful.
Does a title search show who owned the property before?
Not through Quick Search. It does not show previous owners or interests that were removed, but the advanced Search tool covers those.
Will a mortgage show up on the title?
Yes. Mortgages and liens appear as interests on an ISC title.
Are court judgments shown on the title?
Judgments are tracked separately in the Judgment Registry. Ask your lawyer whether a separate judgment search makes sense for your situation.
Sources
- Law Society of Saskatchewan – Offer to Purchase — lawsociety.sk.ca
- ISC – Quick Search — isc.ca
- ISC – The Title and How to Read it — isc.ca
- The Land Titles Regulations, 2001 (L-5.1 Reg 1) — publications.saskatchewan.ca
Links go to official government, court and regulator pages. The law changes — confirm you are reading the current version.
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