Costa Rica boasts a safe form of title registration to protect buyers from hidden claims. In many ways, the Costa Rican system of maintaining property records is far superior to systems in use by more developed countries such as the United States . All documents are centered in the National Registry, where both titles and surveys are recorded.
Records are kept in a central computer system as well as on microfilm, and in original form. Duplicates of all records are updated daily, and sent to two separate fireproof vaults in separate locations from the registry. Any change in the status of a title, or any claim that might affect it, must also be noted on the title registry page, thus making it easy to verify.
Those who purchase land in Costa Rica should get professional advise, which includes a search of the title in the Registry, so as to confirm there are no liens or encumbrances on it, and to establish its proper ownership. Once the deal is completed, the purchaser should receive documents to prove the sale was registered in the Registry. |
