Province of Ontario Land Registration Information System (POLARIS)

Historically, searching title in Ontario has been a complicated and time consuming activity. Each search required a personal visit to a Land Registry Office to view paper indexes, original documents and plans.

Teraview software accesses ownership and land related information for properties in Ontario that have been automated and converted by Teranet. This data is stored and managed in the Province of Ontario Land Registration Information System (POLARIS) database. All of the information in the POLARIS database is taken from the actual Land Registry Office documentation.

POLARIS consists of three databases:

• The Title Index Database (which replaces the paper abstract indexes and parcel registers)
• The Property Index Database (which provides a visual index map of properties)
• The Image Database (which contains images of active instruments in the Title Index Database as well as plans)

The POLARIS database is a transaction-based system and is updated as new documents are registered. The property index map database is also updated as new documents are processed by Land Registry Office staff and subsequent amendments to property boundaries are made to the respective maps.

The Image Database is updated with images of newly registered documents. These documents are captured from Land Registry Office microfilm created after the said documents have been certified by Land Registry Office staff. Images of electronic documents created through the e-reg product are available shortly after registration of same.

Depending on your searching needs Teraview software, GeoWarehouse Online Service and the BAR-eX website provide remote access to the POLARIS database and streamline the process of searching title into one manageable, automated system that uses a subscriber's office computer.

In addition to this, access to the POLARIS database is available using a PINFIND terminal located in the Land Registry Office.