Record Organization

Environment

Prior to POLARIS automation all Land Registry records were maintained on a manual paper recording system. Review of property title information was conducted at the respective Land Registry Office. The implementation of the POLARIS system provides a secure electronic environment for clients to access and search property either at the Land Registry Office or remotely via the Teraview software, GeoWarehouse Online service and the BAR-eX website.

Record Organization

The Land Registration system, which has been in existence in the Province for over 200 years, organizes interests in title geographically on paper abstracts. These abstracts contain historical title information for many different properties, often making the task of tracing the ownership for one particular property arduous.

The Land Titles system has been in use in the Province for over 100 years and is largely a parcelized system that organizes the paper abstract records by ownership. Teranet has undertaken not only to automate existing Land Titles and Registry records, but also parcelize by ownership, and convert Registry properties to the Land Titles System. This will result in an organized, accurate and up to date statement of ownership for the majority of properties in the province of Ontario.

Accessing Information

Accessing the Land Registry paper records was primarily accomplished using geographic descriptions. The POLARIS database has been designed to provide easy access to title information using a number of approaches including the assignment of a unique property identification number (PIN) for each property. Once properties are automated they can be accessed through the POLARIS database in the Land Registry Office as well as remotely through one of the Teranet remote channels by a number of criteria such as name, property address, instrument number, or PIN. In addition, a POLARIS mapping database is available that provides a visual representation of the properties automated. An image database is also available through the Teraview software providing remote access to instruments and plans registered on title.