Torrens Registration Process

Land in Clay County can be come registered by court order (initial registration) or by examiner's directive (certificate of possessory title "CPT").  In either process the owner submits an application setting out all interests in the land and provides evidence of the chain of title (usually an abstract).  The examiner of title investigates and issues a report.

Initial registration under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 508 is suitable for any property and includes the option of having judicial landmarks placed to determine the location of boundary lines.  To register a boundary, a survey is required.

Once land is registered, it is important to record documents on the certificate of title, not in the abstract records.

For more information and forms on initial registration, visit the Hennepin County website.

A CPT registration under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 508A is appropriate for uncontested titles where the applicant is the record owner and provides an administrative alternative to a judicial registration.  Boundary registration is not an option.  After a CPT is issued, boundaries may be registered in a proceeding subsequent. 

Registration of possessory title is generally less expensive than a judicial registration.  The process does not involve the court and requires no publication or personal service of notice of the registration, other than by mail.

For more information and forms on certificate of possessory title, visit the Hennepin County website.