Contact
Examiner of Titles
Email:ex.titles@hennepin.us
Phone:612-348-3191
M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Government Center A-703
300 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55487Property
Land registration
All land in Minnesota originally has abstract title. Registration transfers the land from the recording act system (abstract title) to the registration system (Torrens title.) Torrens title provides certainty of ownership and protection against loss of property by adverse possession. With registered land, a certificate of title is maintained by the county, showing the current owner(s) and interests in the land.
Land registration procedures
Land in Hennepin County may be brought into the Torrens system either by a:
- Decree of the District Court issued pursuant to Minnesota Statutes chapter 508 (initial registration by court proceedings); or
- Directive of the Examiner of Titles pursuant Minnesota Statutes chapter 508A (possessory land title registration (“CPT”)).
Once land is registered, it is important to record documents on the certificate of title, not in the abstract records.
Initial registration instructions and forms
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.
Instructions
- Initial registration proceedings instructions (PDF, 1MB)
- Survey requirements for boundary registration (PDF, 1MB)
- Instructions: after an interlocutory order (PDF, 1MB)
- Instructions for contested registrations (PDF, 1MB)
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Tips for finding persons or entities in Torrens proceedings (PDF, 1MB)
Forms
- Individual application (RTF, 1MB)
- Joint tenant application (RTF, 1MB)
- Business application (RTF, 1MB)
- Appointment of agent for non-resident applicant (PDF, 1MB)
- Petition and order for summons (RTF, 1MB)
- Land title summons (RTF, 1MB)
- Affidavit in support of summons (RTF, 1MB)
- Notice to mail summons (RTF, 1MB)
- Affidavit of default (RTF, 1MB)
- Interlocutory order (RTF, 1MB) (For boundary registration)
- Order and decree of registration (RTF, 1MB)
- Applicant affidavit (DOCX, 1MB)
Court rules
Certificate of Possessory Title (CPT) instructions and forms
A CPT registration under Minnesota Statutes chapter 508A is appropriate for uncontested titles where the applicant is the record owner. Boundary registration is not an option. After a CPT is issued, boundaries may be registered in a proceeding subsequent.
Possessory title registration under Minnesota Statutes chapter508A provides an administrative alternative to a judicial registration of title to land under chapter 508. A possessory estate in land is a fee simple estate held by an owner who (1) has been found on examination by the examiner of titles pursuant to section 508A.13 to be the record owner of the land described; and (2) has satisfied the examiner of titles that the owner is in actual or constructive possession of the land.
Registration of possessory title is generally less expensive and can be completed more quickly 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. Possessory title registration is recommended for uncontested titles when:
- Part of the owner’s land is already registered. The double recording of documents becomes unnecessary.
- The owner desires protection against adverse possession or judgments against someone with the same or similar name.
- Development or sale of the land is anticipated, and the owner desires the certainty of registered title.
- A planned condominium encompasses registered and not registered land.
- Owners, including cities, wish to simplify the records of their land ownership and end the necessity of maintaining abstracts.