The Land Titles Act (ON)

• The Land Titles Act (LTA) governs land registration in Ontario, ensuring secure ownership and dispute resolution.
• Applies to designated parts of Ontario via land titles divisions, which remain unchanged by electoral/municipal boundary adjustments (s. 4).
• The Director of Land Registration oversees land registry offices (s. 8).

1. Absolute Title: Grants fee simple ownership, free from encumbrances (s. 45).
2. Qualified Title: Includes exceptions (e.g., unresolved claims) noted in the register (s. 37).
3. Possessory Title: Protects against adverse possession claims; allows upgrades to absolute/qualified titles (s. 47).

• First Registration: Requires title examination, notice to interested parties, and Director of Titles approval (s. 41).
• Amendments: Entries corrected for errors (e.g., misdescriptions, fraud) or legal changes (s. 75).
• Fee Records: All fees/instruments must be recorded in approved formats (s. 7).

• Transfers: Registered owners may transfer land; transferees gain rights subject to registered encumbrances (s. 87).
• Charges: Mortgages/liens require registration. Chargees with a power of sale may register land sales (s. 99).
• Leasehold Interests: Registered leasehold land must meet criteria (e.g., no prohibitions on alienation) (s. 38).

• Easements are registered per the Director’s requirements (s. 39).
• Encumbrances (e.g., taxes, liens) are noted on the register (s. 106).

• Land Titles Assurance Fund: Compensates individuals wrongfully deprived of land due to fraud/errors (s. 57).
• Fraudulent instruments may trigger deletions from the register (s. 80).

• Adverse Possession: Prohibited for land under the LTA (s. 51).
• Language Requirements: Non-English instruments require certified translations (s. 84).
• Land Surveys: The Director may mandate surveys for title accuracy (s. 56).

For specific scenarios (e.g., condominium easements, leasehold upgrades), consult detailed sections (e.g., s. 40 for condos).