We have been advised by the Registry that, under the current Alert Level 2, access to the research area is by appointment only and is restricted to urgent requests such as conducting title searches for pending real property closings.

In accordance with federal and provincial health guidelines for physical distancing, there is a limit of 9 searchers in the research area at one time with a further limit of 5 inside the deeds vault. To ensure equitable access, appointments are in blocks of up to 3-hours with an option to extend, where available. With few exceptions, searchers have been able to obtain their preferred appointment time.

Title searchers and lawyers are encouraged to use CADO to search deeds registrations back to 1982 which will allow the focus to be on searching paper records (pre 1982) during their appointment time and are asked to arrive and depart at their scheduled time or to notify the Registry if they can’t make it. The preferred method for making appointments, answering the COVID-19 screening questions or notifying the Registry of changes is via e-mail to snlregistryofdeeds@gov.nl.ca

The Registry has been able to process new registrations with little to no backlog. The processing status is periodically published on the Registry’s website at: https://www.gov.nl.ca/dgsnl/registries/deeds-2/