HOW TO OBTAIN AN ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF TITLE

The principal function of the Land Registration Authority (LRA) is the issuance of land
titles. The following are the steps in the judicial registration of land leading to the issuance of the
original certificate of title.
1. SURVEY OF LAND The land must be surveyed by a licensed surveyor who shall prepare a
plan on tracing cloth or Diazo Polyester Film.
2. APPROVAL OF PLAN The plan should be approved by the Director of Lands/ Regional
Lands Director/ Regional Technical Director having jurisdiction of the place where the property
is situated. Said plan must be accompanied by the corresponding technical description and that
the same must be verified and certified by the Director of Lands/ Regional Technical Director or
his duly authorized official representative to make such certification.
3. FILING OF APPLICATION The application for land registration shall be in writing and
be filed in the Regional Trial Court of the place where the land is situated. It shall be prepared in
triplicate, signed and sworn to by the applicant.
The application must be presented in triplicate to the Regional Trial Court of the province or city
where the land is located accompanied by:
(a) The original plan on tracing cloth or Diazo Polyester Film properly attested and certified by
the said office or the official authorized to make such certification together with two (2) print
copies thereof;
(b) Three (3) copies of the technical description duly verified and certified by the Regional
Technical Director or his duly authorized official representative and that the same must be in due
form consistent with LRC Circular No. 365;
(c) Three (3) copies of the surveyors/ Geodetic Engineers Certificate or certificate of nonavailability from the Regional Technical Director and;
(d) Four (4) copies of the latest Tax Declaration Assessment Certificate from Assessors Office
of the place where the land is situated.
The application shall contain the following data and information:
1. description of the land;
2. civil status of the applicant whether married or not, and if married
3. full names and addresses of the applicants, the occupants of the land, and all adjoining
owners if known, if unknown, statement showing what search has been made to find
them; if the applicant is a minor, the full name and address of his or her legal guardian;
4. citizenship of the applicant

4. LAND REGISTRATION CASE NUMBER The Clerk of Court shall assign the Land of
Registration Case Number upon receipt of the application.
5. DATE OF HEARING The Court shall set date of hearing of the application in accordance
with Section 23 of PD 1529 and LRC Circular No. 353. The Court Order setting the date initial
hearing shall be sent to LRA together with the duplicate copy of the application; original or
certified copy of plan on tracing cloth or Diazo Polyester Film; duplicate original copy of the
technical description; surveyors certificate, latest Tax Declaration; and proof of payment of
publication fee in the Official Gazette.
6. PUBLICATION The Notice of Initial Hearing prepared by LRA shall be published once in
the Official Gazette and once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. The cost
of publication in the amount of PHP 1,265.75 if the application embraces 1 lot and additional
amount of PHP 403.25 for every lot in excess of the first shall be paid by the applicant to the
Clerk of Court upon filing of his application who shall remit the same to the Director, National
Printing Office.
7. OPPOSITIONS All persons who claim ownership or any interest in the land may file in
court oppositions to the application so that their rights may be heard.
8. EVIDENCE The applicant and the oppositors shall present evidence to prove their
ownership during the hearing.
9. DECISION After hearing, the court shall render decision confirming the title of the person
who has proven his ownership. When the decision becomes final, the court shall issue an Order
directing the Administrator of the LRA to issue a Decree of Registration in favor of the said
person.
10. DECREE OF REGISTRATION Upon receipt of said Court Order, the Administrator of
the LRA shall issue a DECREE OF REGISTRATION and that the same shall be numbered,
typed in the Original Certificate of Title itself and that the original and owners duplicate copies
of the same be sent to the Register of Deeds of the place where the property is located.
11. CERTIFICATE OF TITLE Upon receipt by the Register of Deeds of the Original and
duplicate copies of the Original Certificate of the Title of Decree of Registration, the Register of
Deeds shall issue the owners duplicate copy of the Original Certificate of Title to the registered
owner upon payment of legal fees.
12. SUBSEQUENT TRANSACTION - An OCT is issued only once, subsequent transaction or
negotiation of the lot in sales, mortgage, subdivision or consolidation will result in issuance of a
Transfer of Certificate of Title (TCT) already.
BEWARE OF SCAMS IN REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS. ALWAYS CONSULT A REAL
ESTATE BROKER / LAWYER / PARALEGAL.