I LOST MY TITLE!

I Lost My Title! What Now?

Think of it this way: if you lose your credit card, you don’t wait for someone to go on a shopping spree under your name. You immediately call the bank and have it blocked.

Losing your land title works the same way—except the “bank” you call is the Registry of Deeds.

The moment you're certain the title is gone, you prepare an Affidavit of Loss and have it annotated on the RD’s copy of the title. That small annotation becomes a big red flag for anyone trying to transact using your property. Since every legit buyer will request a Certified True Copy, they’ll instantly see: “Oops, title reported lost.”

That annotation protects you.

But what happens if you delay?

Trouble. Even if it’s harder to misuse a title than a credit card, it’s far from impossible. A scammer can have IDs made, pretend to be you, and attempt to sell or lease the property. Or worse—use your title as collateral for an informal loan (sangla). By the time you discover it, you're stuck untangling a mess that could’ve been avoided.

So the rule is simple:

If the title’s missing, act fast. The longer you wait, the more room you give for someone else to act in your name. And don’t worry—if you eventually find the title, you can always request for the annotation to be cancelled. It’s not ideal, but it’s completely doable.

Finding your title tomorrow is great. Protecting yourself today is smarter.