A common question I get asked is: What is the process of Reconstitution of Title in the Philippines, or even, what exactly is Reconstitution?

In the context of Philippine property law, Reconstitution means the replacement of the lost land title that is held by the Registry of Deeds either through an Administrative Reconstitution of Title or through court.

A shocked looking woman with ginger hair saying

A Judicial or Administrative Reconstitution of Title is needed to replace the missing or destroyed Registry’s of Deeds copy of your Land Title.

Most people only find out that Reconstitution of Title is needed when they are required by a buyer or bank to verify their Land Title at the Registry of Deeds.

The Title can only be verified if the Registry of Deeds has its own copy of your Land Title.

If it does not, then this is a major “Oh No!” moment; you will need to go through either a Judicial or Administrative Reconstitution of Title.

(This is the case even if you have your original Owner’s Title because you need both your original Owner’s Land Title and the Registry of Deed’s copy to prove ownership.)

In this article, I explain:

  • Administrative Reconstitution of Title allows you to replace your missing land title without going to court.
  • Judicial Reconstitution of Title requires that you go to court to replace your missing land title. Most cases fall under this category.

If you have any questions which are not answered in this article, please contact us.

If you are searching for information about how to replace a lost Owner’s Title, read this post for detailed information on how to petition for issuance of lost owner’s copy of land title

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Why is it important to do a Philippine Reconstitution of Title if the RD copy is missing?

When you first acquire land in the Philippines, the Registry of Deeds (RD) will issue you an Owner’s Title or Land Title.

The Registry of Deeds will have another copy that they keep, that is the original copy of your Land Title.

Together, these two documents confirm your ownership of that land.

A woman with ginger hair with a house behind her. She is holding 2 Certificated documents representing Philippine Land Titles. Reconstitution of Title Philippines is needed when the RD copy is missing because both documents are used to confirm ownership.

Philippine Reconstitution of Title is needed because both the owner’s title and the Registry of Deed’s title are proof of your ownership of the property.

If one of these land titles is lost or destroyed, it may cause problems, such as someone challenging your possession or ownership of the land and property.

If the Registry of Deed’s copy of your land title is lost or destroyed, unscrupulous people may be able to sell your property due to the absence of a title at the Registry of Deed’s.

There are many cases of this in the Philippines after a Registry of Deed’s office has been damaged.

For example, the Quezon City Registry of Deed’s burned down in 1998, and court cases brought by rightful land owners continue to this day.

If the Registry of Deed’s copy of your title is destroyed, buyers, banks, and other investors may no longer push through with a sale or investment.

And if you are planning to sell or develop your property, having your Owner’s Title is not enough.

You will need both documents as references.

A woman with ginger hair holding and looking at a Land Title Certificate. Behind her is a lilac star and the word

Buyers often verify your ownership of the property by looking at the Title lodged at the Registry of Deeds; thus, a Philippine Reconstitution of Title case is needed when the Title at the RD is missing.

 

There are also a lot of fake Land Titles in the Philippines.

Serious buyers will often go to the Registry of Deeds with your photocopied Owner’s Title to verify your ownership through the Registry’s copy due to how many fake titles there are.

This is called due diligence, and it checks if the owner is really the owner of the property.

If the Registry of Deed’s copy of the Land Title cannot be found, the buyers may back off.

As such, the need for replacing the lost RD Title through the Philippine Reconstitution of Title case is necessary.

Reminder: If you have lost your copy of your Owner’s Title but the Registry of Deed’s copy is intact, the process you need to go through is called Reissuance. I go through the detailed step-by-step process for this in my article, What to Do When You’ve Lost Your Land Title.

What is Administrative Reconstitution of Title in the Philippines?

In limited situations, you can Reconstitute the Registry of Deeds (RD)’s Title of your copy yourself. 

This is called Administrative Reconstitution of Title.

Administrative Reconstitution of Title can only go ahead if:

  1. The Registry of Deeds where the land was located announces that Administrative Reconstitution is possible.

This is usually when the Registry has suffered a natural catastrophe such as a fire or a flood.

In cases where more than 10% of the Titles and at least 500 Land Titles have been destroyed, they may announce that Administrative Reconstitution of Title is possible for the affected titles.

Please note: We do not maintain listings of which Registry of Deeds permits Administrative Reconstitution of Title as these change all the time. You will have to call the Registry of Deeds where the land is located to confirm. You can check here for contact details of Registry of Deeds Offices

  1. You must also have your Owners Land Title or your co-owner’s, mortgagee’s, or lessee’s duplicate of the Certificate of Land Title for Administrative Reconstitution of Title to be possible.
A very happy woman with ginger hair, holding her Philippine Land Title. Next to her is a notice at the local Registry of Deeds stating

Administrative Reconstitution of Title is allowed only in very specific circumstances!

So, just to reiterate,

You can do Administrative Reconstitution of Title if you have your Owners or Co-owner’s, mortgagee’s, or Lessee’s duplicate of the Certificate of Title and if the Registry of Deeds where the land is located announces that Administrative Reconstitution of Title is allowed.

You would submit your petition for Administrative Reconstitution of Title at the Registry of Deeds where the land is located.

If the Registry of Deeds doesn’t announce you can do Administrative Reconstitution of Title or you don’t have one of the documents, then you are going to have to go through court instead.

As a basic rule, always check if Administrative Reconstitution of Title is possible. It is cheaper than court, so avail of it if you can.

What is Judicial Reconstitution of Title in the Philippines?

In most cases, Judicial Reconstitution of Title is needed when the Registry of Deeds copy of your Title has been lost.

Judicial Reconstitution is a court case. [Sec 110, PD 1529]

Aside from the scenario’s specifically mentioned above in the Administrative Reconstitution of Title section, there is really no way to replace a lost RD’s copy of title otherwise.

Now, there are numerous ‘fixers’ and ‘middle men” who will claim that they can do this for you quickly.

But I’ve seen enough cases to be extremely wary. The clients can be taken advantage of and the “quick fix” often doesn’t actually fix the problem.

A white court entrance with Doric columns, to the left is a Certificate of Land Title. Above the court is a Petition for Reconstitution of Lost Owner's Title prepared by a lawyers and to the right is a Judge who will decide on the Reconstitution of Title Philippines case.

Most people will need to go through a court process to replace the lost Registry of Deeds Land Title since it’s fairly rare for Administrative Reconstitution of Title to be available.

I will always advocate that people should do it the correct way.

It is the only way to avoid the very real problems you will face because of shady, backroom deals. “Fixers” and “Middle Men” can lose you a lot of money regularly.

They will cost you a lot of time, too!

 

Quick Facts

Case:                   Reconstitution of Title in the Philippines

Timeline:            1 – 1 ½ years, depending on the court’s schedule

Cost:                    Court Fees, Registry of Deeds Fees, Lawyer’s Fees

Testimony:         At least once, or more as needed by the court

Documents:       Owner’s Duplicate Certificate of Title or other documents enumerated below, Other documents required by the court

Reconstitution of Title Philippines: File a Petition for Judicial Reconstitution

Step 1: File a Petition for Philippine Reconstitution of Title with the Regional Trial Court where the land is located.

Lost or destroyed titles can be replaced at the cost of time and resources as most titles can only be replaced through court.

(Administrative Reconstitution of title is limited to a very, very small number of cases. Most lost Registry of Deed titles can only be replaced with a court case. Because of court, replacing a lost RD title can be costly.)

A hand holding a Petition to be filed with the Regional Trial Court. Some of the requirements for Judicial or Administrative Reconstitution of Title are the same.

You must file the Petition for Philippine Reconstitution of Title with the Regional Trial Court where the land is situated.

 

You and your lawyer will create a Petition requesting the court to order the replacement of the Registry of Deeds copy.

Your lawyer will first need to assess the evidence that you are the owner of the land and allow him to go to court:

To do that, he will first ask you for any of the following documents:

A lawyer in a white shirt with a dark tie, running whilst holding a pile of documents to be submitted as part of a Philippine Reconstitution of Title case.

Your lawyer must present the proper documents to show ownership to strengthen your claim.

  • Your Owner’s Duplicate Certificate of Title
  • Your co-owner’s, mortgagee’s or lessee’s Duplicate Certificate
  • Certified copy of the Certificate previously issued by the Registry of Deeds
  • Authenticated copy of the Decree of Registration or Patent that was the basis of the Certificate of Title, if the Reconstitution is for the original Certificate of Title OR Deed of Transfer or other document or an Authenticated Copy with the property’s description covered by the Transfer Certificate of Title and filed at the Registry of Deeds, if the Reconstitution is for a Transfer Certificate of Title
  • Deed or an Authenticated copy of mortgage, lease or encumbrance with the property’s description and filed at the Registry of Deeds
  • A special power of attorney authorizing him to act on your behalf.
  • Any other document which is sufficient in the judgement of the court

As with any court case, you need to have strong evidence for the case to succeed.

The specific documents cited above are documents acknowledged by the court as valid sources of evidence for a case for Reconstitution of Title in the Philippines.

Your lawyer will have to carefully go over your case if the Owner’s copy of title or the other major documentary sources are missing.

When your attorney has gone over your documents, he will create a Petition to be filed at the court.

There will be Filing Fees, Publication Fees and other document-related fees, such as Postal or Notarial Fees.

In addition, a Land Survey may have to be commissioned for Land Registration Authority (LRA) Approval if documentary evidence isn’t strong.

Reconstitution of Title Philippines: Step 2 Witness Testimony

A blue podium backlit in yellow and orange, representing a Witness Stand in court. A Reconstitution of Title Philippines court case requires witness testimony.

A Philippine Reconstitution of Title court case will always need testimony from a witness to support the case.

You will be required to have a witness attend Court.

The witness will testify as to the ownership of the land and how they discovered that the land title was missing.

Before the witness takes the stand in court, your lawyer will have done the following:

  • Coordinated with the Official Gazette to publish a Notice which must be completed 30 days before the court’s First Hearing.
  • Complied with Notice Requirements
  • Worked with you to create a Land Survey, if needed
  • Appeared at court to show compliance to legal requirements
  • Complied with other Orders of the court

All of the above will take some time, so the witness may not be called to testify until several months after the actual filing of the Petition for the Philippine Reconstitution of Title case.

As part of the preparation for that, your lawyer will interview the witness and file a submission to the court called the “Judicial Affidavit”.

The Judicial Affidavit covers all the facts the Witness presented.

Fees related to the Petition, the court appearance and other Submissions will also need to be paid.

Reconstitution of Title Philippines: Step 3 Decision

Unless there is opposition, your case should be headed for its conclusion.

(A hopefully happy ending where you receive a Reconstituted Philippine Land Title.)

Your lawyer is busy now putting together the final submission to the court and dealing with any other legal requirements that court might have ordered.

Reconstitution of Title Philippines – the Decision will take some time as it will rely on the availability of the judge. In this picture is a judge in a white court wig and around his head are the Scales of Justice symbol, Papers and a gavel and stand.

Hopefully, your case for Reconstitution of Title in the Philippines will conclude with a successful decision.

The court will release its decision but be prepared for a bit of a wait, as it can take months.

The court case is concluded at this point but remember that you still have to register this with the Registry of Deeds (RD) where the land is located.

Do not skip registering the decision with the Registry of Deeds!

It is important as the Registry of Deeds will only create a new title after the court’s successful decision has been registered with them. It is not an automatic process.

While it is a time-consuming process to register the decision with the Registry of Deeds, it is a very, very necessary one.

And yes, you will have to pay Registry of Deeds Fees as well.

Reconstitution of Title Philippines: Summary and Main Points

This article has been written from your point of view.

It covers Administrative Reconstitution of Title requirements with an overview of the documents and process.

It also covers the Judicial Reconstitution of Title requirements, what you need to prepare, the steps you need to be aware of, and how the case will look from your point of view.

Reconstitution of Title Philippines: The 3 main steps for a Reconstitution of Title in the Philippines represented graphically, from filing to testimony to decision.

You will need to go through the three steps of Reconstitution of Title in the Philippines if the copy of your Title in the Registry of Deeds has been lost/destroyed.

In general, the court process looks like this:

  • File and submit a Petition for Philippine Reconstitution of Title at court
  • Present a witness at court
  • Wait for the court decision and register the reconstituted Title at the Registry of Deeds

Your lawyer will take care of all the other requirements, as he will attend all the other hearings, address extra court orders, and generally follow up and coordinate with the court on several other things.

(FYI, the process from the lawyer’s side is more complicated than what I’ve presented in this article. There are a lot of court rules that he needs to comply with to make sure your case goes as smoothly as possible. Always hire good counsel, it’s better than a case dragging on forever or a case being denied).

A woman landowner with ginger hair and beside her is a male lawyer in a brown suit. Good counsel is important when filing Administrative Reconstitution of Title.

Avoid Fixers and Middlemen!

A few things to remember–

Always check to see if you are eligible for Administrative Reconstitution of Title.

Administrative Reconstitution of Title is cheaper (but it is still a lot of work) and so, it may be best to see if this path is open to you.

Second, take care to go through the correct process.

There are Fixers and Middle Men who will promise “shortcuts” and “easy fixes”.

The aftermath of these “easy fixes” can be court cases against you, lost money and lost time.

If done the right way, you minimize risk that your title can be challenged.

A successful court case for Reconstitution in the Philippines will allow you to easily sell or have investors look at the land to maximize its potential.

Atty. Francesco C. Britanico, FCB Law Office

Lawyers In the Philippines

Other Useful articles about Philippine Land Titles and Inheriting Land:

What to do when you have lost your Philippine Land Title

Philippine Land Title Search

How to Transfer Land Title to Heirs in the Philippines

124 Comments

  1. Lealyn M.

    Hello po may bibilhin kaming lupa kaso wala silang hawak na original tittle as per checking po sa rod nakakuha ako ng CTC .nag ask ako sa may ari ang sabi nag pa reconstitute sila dahil nasunog ung rod dati.opp nka lagay naman sa nakuha kong copy ang reconstitution pero walang silang original na hawak.anu po gagawin para mag karoon ng original tittle bago ko bilhin ang lupa salamat.

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      If you have a Certified True Copy from the Registry of Deeds, then there is no need to file a court case for Reconstitution of Title in the Philippines, since Reconstitution is for restoring a lost Registry of Deed’s Title.

      It seems what is missing is an Owner’s copy of the Philippine Land Title.

      In that case, a case called Reissuance is done.

      Reply
  2. Jury Cariaga

    Hello po. May na-acquire po kasi kaming lot. Nasunog daw po yung ROD previously kaya nawalan po sila ng copy. Si owner naman po meron siyang copy ng title which is original naman po. Ang problema po kasi nakapangalan pa sa namatay nyang ama yung title. Pano po kaya ang dapat gawin namin? Sana po matulungan nyo kami. Kasi ang sabi ng ROD need po namin ng reconstitution. Applicable po ba sa amin ang administrative reconstitution? Ano po ang mga dapat gawin? Ano po ang dapat namin unahin? Reconstitution po ba o transfer pa po sa amin? Maraming salamat po. Sana po matulungan ninyo kami.

    Reply
    • FCB Law

      Administrative reconstitution of title may be possible. You should check with the Register of Deeds concerned.

      Reply
      • Anwar Macalawan

        May bibilhin po ako na lupa na may titulo ang problema ang sbi ng ROD nawawala po ang file copy ng ROD sa hindi malaman na dahilan at kelangan daw po magpaconstitute ng title, hindi po ba unfair yon sa part ng may ari dhil file copy ng ROD ang nawala bkit po ang may ari ngayon ang gagastos sa reconstitution ng title, ano po ba ang pananagutan dito ng ROD? Ano po ang dapat gawin ng may ari ng lupa?

      • lawyerphilippinesadmin

        I understand how you feel.

        Maybe you can check with the RD to see if administrative reconstitution of title – sometimes it is available if there was a natural disaster or several titles were affected. Administrative reconstitution of title is cheaper than a court case, and so its good to check, even if it is not often available.

        Otherwise, a Philippine reconstitution of title is needed and yes, you will have to go to court.

    • pat reprado

      Good day. How much po ang reconstitute of land title. davao area po and 10 hectares. makatarungan po ba ang 300k all in?

      Reply
      • lawyerphilippinesadmin

        Sent an emaail.

  3. Judy

    How much does reconstitution typically cost? court fees, lawyer, registry fees etc.

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      Email us for a cost specific to you – since some factors can make the cost rise.

      Check also with the RD where the title was located, since it may be possible to avoid Philippine reconstitution of title if administrative reconstitution of title is available.

      Administrative reconstitution of title is when the RD can reconstitute your title itself.

      Reply
  4. EVE

    OCT, dated Aug 1938, was cancelled, 2 TCT follows, both were cancelled, according to RD, no record found na from the last TCT, can this be a valid reasonf or reconstitution?

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      This seems really complicated. We would have to discuss the situation with you so that we are clear on the facts.

      Reply
  5. Mike

    May i know the estimated cost for reconstitution of title lost in the fire at the RD?

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      This might fall under Administrative reconstitution of title – meaning that you can do it yourself.

      Check with the RD if your title can undergo administrative reconstitution of title instead of the judicial process as it will be much cheaper (although it is still a lot of work.)

      Reply
  6. Angel Lon

    How much is the total cost of reconstitution, Cavite area lot is 108 square meter, bought for 1.5 million.

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      Email us for a cost – are yo talking about Reissuance or about Reconstitution of Title?

      Reissuance is when the Owner’s Title is missing.

      On the other hand – Philipine Reconstitution of Title is when the RD’s Title is missing.

      Reply
  7. Rhad

    Hello po, what is the right approach po if the liason officer lost the original duplicated title from pag ibig to registry of deeds upon transit. Do you still need to undergo reconstitution of title?

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      Philipine Reconstitution of title is to replace a missing Registry of Deed’s title (and NOT an owner’s title as that would be reissuance).

      Email us for the cost specific to you as it depends on the situation.

      Reply
  8. Teodora Morando

    Hello po i need help po for my parents lost title on who to go to or maybe a lawyer that would represent us on processing of lost land title. Please reply

    Reply
    • FCB Law

      We will be happy to help you with this.

      Please fill out our form on https://lawyerphilippines.org so that we can speak to the details of your specific case.

      Thank you.

      Reply
    • Nathan Baraoidan

      Hello atty.
      We bought a lot with Katibayan ng Orihinal na Titulo Blg. __. We were not able to transfer the title into our name. Then the title was lost. If we file for the reconstitution of the title, should we file it under the name of the former owner or we can directly file for our name? Can we the new owners file for the reconstitution?

      Reply
      • lawyerphilippinesadmin

        If the title lost was the Owner’s Title, a Philippine Reissuance of Title case is filed.

        A court case for Reconstitution of Title in the Philippines is only filed when the RD’s copy of the title is lost.

        Yes, you can file for as the new owners.

  9. Anna

    Hi. Ano po bang documents ang hihingin ng court kapag nag file ng affidavit of loss sa titulo, example po misplaced na po at di makita? Thank you.

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      The court will ask for proof of ownership such as the CTC of Title from the RD if the Owner’s Title is missing.

      Reply
  10. Jude

    How can I stop the reconstitution of american tittle because we have tax declarations of portion of that land that the living heirs are not willing to give to us…thank you

    Reply
    • FCB Law

      If there is a pending court case, you can intervene or oppose it. Or you can file you own court case for your title to be registered or confirmed.

      Reply
  11. Pia Matienzo

    32 I have a photocopy of the court decision, am not sure if it has been filed. I also have a photocopy of the tct and tax DECLARATION. What should I do next to get an original copy of the title? Thanks

    Reply
    • FCB Law

      If there is already court decision, it should be enforced. A photocopy will not suffice. A certified copy of the decision should be secured from the court and presented to the register of deeds.

      Reply
  12. katrina del rosario

    my father bought a property from the daughter of the ownee (owner died long years ago) only to find out that the govt copy was destroyed by fire. now that we are transferring it to my fathers name they said that we need to undergo rexonstitution.. i just want to ask can my father as the new owner, can he alone file a petition?

    Reply
    • Atty. Francesco Britanico

      Yes, he can be the named petitioner in the court case.

      Reply
  13. Edna

    The original owner of 10.9 ha farm land passed away also my ex husband passed away but he got the deed of sale and copy of the land titles are still in the name of original owner. since Rd got burned they require reconstitution of the title. Does it mean title to be reconstituted will be on the original owners not on my ex husband’s name even though there’s a deed of sale? Please advice. Thank you..

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      Yes, restoring a title through Administrative reconstitution of title or Judicial reconstitution of title would restore the title as it was when lost or destroyed.

      To transfer it to your husbands name, all the transfer taxes and the BIR fees must be paid.

      (As a side note, check to see if Administrative reconstitution of title is available – it may be since there was a fire at the RD. Administrative reconstitution of title is much cheaper than going to court.)

      Reply
  14. Pablito Apolinar

    How much will it cost to reconstitute a title?

    Reply
    • Atty. Francesco Britanico

      This depends on a number of factors, including what the necessary documents are, the availability of evidence and the need to obtain them, and the location (city or municipality) of the property.

      Reply
  15. Remz

    Hi. I’ve bought a lot in 2019 and was given a photocopy of the title and an Absolute Deed of Sale. I also checked the lot in the Registry of Deeds and they said that the title is “clean.” Now, the original title is on regional court for reconstitution since it was destroyed during Typhoon Yolanda. Is it normal for this to drag on for years? It’s been on court for almost 7 years already.

    Reply
    • Atty. Francesco Britanico

      7 years is going long for such a case. You may ask to check to court records to verify its current status.

      Reply
  16. Angie Legaspi

    We have receive letter/affidavit from RD that our title was destroyed due to fire. We have the duplicate copy of the said title. Need pa din po ba mag pa judicial reconstitution khit may affidavit na kmi from RD?

    Reply
    • Atty. Francesco Britanico

      Yes. That would be one of the pieces of evidence you would present to the court.

      Reply
      • Rodel Divina

        Hi Attorney,
        I am about to buy this farm lot. But the seller does not have an original title or TCT. He only showed his updated tax dec.
        If ever that Assesor’s office can verified this tax dec and if RD really shows that title for that property is not in their posession, can I still proceed with the Judicial reconstitution? If ever I am only armed with the sellers tax dec, our deed of absolute sale, rd,s confirmation.

        Is this possible? I will only buy the property if I am sure that there is a way that I can acquire a title for that land.

        Thanks in advance

      • lawyerphilippinesadmin

        A tax dec is supporting proof of ownership only.

        Only an original owners title suffices AS WELL as the RD’s copy of title. You need both.

        If the owner’s title is missing and you can get a CTC of the title from the RD with the owner’s name on it, then you can go through Reconstitution of title in the Philippines (or Administrative reconstitution of title if it is possible, but you would need to check with the RD since only the RD will know if your title is eligibale for Administrative reconstitution of title.)

      • Luningning Sico

        Hello po, iyong mother in law ko passed away year 2015. She own land without transfering the Title to her heirs..Now the heirs found out that original copy of the title sa register of deed is missing. What’s the first step for the heirs to do to apply for reconstitution of the title.

      • lawyerphilippinesadmin

        If the Owner’s copy of the Philippine Land Title is missing, then a case called Reissuance should be done.

        It is only when the RD’s copy of title is missing that a court case for Reconstitution of Title in the Philippines is filed. (Or sometimes an Administrative Reconstitution of Title is possible).

  17. Mayette Eggleston

    How much is reconstitution of title? The property is in my mom’s name and she is currently residing in the US. What steps do we need to go through the process?

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      Reconsitution of title in the Philippines restores the Registry of Deed’s Title – if it is the owner’s title, please file Reissuance.

      Reply
  18. prince

    Hi. Do all co-owners need to sign the Petition in the administrative reconstitution of the title?
    One of the co-owners is in abroad. Thank you

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      Speak to the RD. They can guide you on this as they handle all Administrative Reconstitution of Title cases.

      Reply
  19. Malu Samson

    My grandmother did not took time to do the administrative reconstitution of her title when the QC RoD was burned. She disregarded the application sent by LRA before. Now the heirs intend to avail the amnesty of estate tax but we were told that the title must be administratively reconstituted first. Will be really need the services of a lawyer for the reconstitution? Do you have any idea how much will it cost the heirs. I hope you take notice of my query. Thank you.

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      Administrative Reconstitution of Title is possible if the RD says your title is eligible.

      For Administrative Reconstitution of Title, no lawyer is necessary. You can do this yourself but it will take a lot of time and cost – even Administrative Reconstitution of Title does take a lot of work.

      Reply
  20. xmc.pl

    keep at it man, your almost there , thanks for the read!

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      Thank you!

      Reply
  21. Jose Arao

    Hi Atty,

    Sir, na reconstitute yung lupa na paghahatian ng lolo namin. kahit wala pa court desicion eh nagpasurvey yung kamag anak namin. okay lang kaya po yun?

    inapply yun reconstitution nung 2010 pero gang ngayon hindi pa tapos.

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      Sometimes a survey is needed.

      The process does take time – both the court process and administrative reconstitution of title are not quick fixes.

      Reply
  22. John Mark Zarate

    Good Morning may I ask the fees related to judicial and administrative reconstitution of title? Thank you

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      For fees, related to Administrative Reconstitution of Title, speak to the RD.

      For Judicial Reconstitution of title in the Philippines, please send us an email so that we can give you an estimate specific to your situation.

      Reply
  23. Sandra

    In 2002 i bought a land for 5M, however i didn’t register or change it in the registry of deeds. In 2004, the seller, knowing that ive still haven changed it, sold the land to another for a much lower price, it had been said to me that the buyer knew i already bought it; later that year ive been told that the buyer went to the registry and change the owner of the land that i initially bought. Do i have a better chance to own the land?

    Reply
    • Atty. Francesco Britanico

      The amount of time that has passed since all this happened makes it difficult to obtain relief.

      Reply
  24. G. M. Vela

    My grandparents, who had passed away, has owned a big parcel of land in the province, the problem is the land title is still in the American title and the local LRA has no record of it. My father, uncles, & aunts, inherited the land, but now this problem has been transferred to us, the 3rd generation, as my father and some of my uncles & aunts had also passed away. The local LRA also advised us to do a reconstitution but did not explain to us the whole process and the expected cost.
    Can you advise what type of reconstitution it would be and how much would it cost?

    thanks & regards,

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      Reconstitution of Title Philippines – this is a court case when the RD’s copy of your title is lost.

      In your case it seems like you need to settle the estate and also reissue the title. Check to see if the RD has a copy of the land title as that will be the basis for what you do.

      Reply
  25. MV Marinas

    Good evening.

    We bought 4 parcels of land and was given by the Seller the corresponding Owners Duplicate copies but we cannot transfer the titles to our name because according to the Register of Deeds 2 of the 4 titles have no image saved on their database and they had advised us to pursue title reconstitution. Can we, as buyers, do the restitution ourselves even though the titles are not yet under our name? Kindly advise how much the reconstitution of the 2 titles will cost. Thank you very much’

    Reply
    • Atty. Francesco Britanico

      Yes, but more information is necessary. Will send you an email.

      Reply
  26. Angelynne

    Atty we purchased a townhouse thru bank. Upon their verification, the title has Sec 7 RA26 which we need to file at court. What is the process and how much would it cost? The seller does not want to process it as it is costly. We have not been informed about this prior. Please help. Ty

    Reply
    • Atty. Francesco Britanico

      I will send an email.

      Reply
      • April Marasigan

        Good day atty. Dapat po ba talaga ipareconstitute ang lumang titulo ng lupa? Magkano po kaya ang magagastos. Maraming salamat po.

      • Atty. Francesco Britanico

        It can depend on several factors including the documents and evidence available and the location of the property.

    • Kristine Joy Galindez

      Hi, would it be possible to undergo Administrative Reconstitution if the rd’s copy was burnt while the owners copy is still with me?

      Reply
      • FCB Law

        This depends on how much or how extensively the RD’s records were damaged.

        Administrative reconstitution of title is only possible when 10% and at least 500 titles of the RD were affected.

        Thus, you have to ask the RD if you are eligible for Administrative reconstitution of title since it is not always possible.

  27. ma. theresa

    we have in our possession the original title, transfer certifcate of title but RD copies is missing, advise us to go judicial reconstitution. how much is the reconstitution?? thanks again

    Reply
    • Atty. Francesco Britancio

      Sent an email.

      Reply
      • Myrna

        My uncle is a single and he left a
        land property is his name. They were 5 in the family. All of his brother and sisters died except my mother who is still alive at 94 yrs old. One sister is single and the rest were married with children. Is my mother has the right to inherit or to own of his properties? How? Thank you for response.

      • Atty. Francesco Britanico

        The children of his siblings are also entitled to inherit in representation of their parent’s share. An extrajudicial settlement of his estate — a unanimous agreement among the heirs — may be the simplest way to do this if everyone can agree.

    • Anna

      How much is the reissuance of lost land title?

      Reply
      • Atty. Francesco Britanico

        This depends on a number of factors such as the location where the court case must be filed and the available evidence because these affect how long or difficult the case will be.

  28. Gwen

    Good day Atty!
    i have same scenario with Lou and Adrian. RD already issued certification that they cannot locate the transmittal if our land title is already transferred to Las Pinas.For your assistance on what to do next. thank you in advance.

    Reply
    • Atty. Francesco Britancio

      Hi Gwen:

      In this situation, investigation of both RDs is needed.

      If it truly does not exist, this is when a case must be filed.

      However remember that you will need documentary proof that you own the land such as your owner’s title.

      Reply
  29. mary

    Hi,
    we have verified with RD that the original copy of our TCT got burned thus we are to to reconstitution thru a lawyer (we have a duplicate copy of the tct at our possession). On the other hand, the broker told us that he can get a copy at LRA, is this true? Likewise, if he is able to get copy at LRA is this doc from LRA enough to enter into a legal sale of the property? thanks !

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      If the RD was burned, please check first with the RD if your title is eligible for administrative reconstitution of title.

      Administrative reconstitution of title is possible when 10% at least 500 titles of the RD’s titles were affected.

      Unlike the court process, Administrative reconstitution of title DOES NOT need a lawyer.

      Reply
  30. Christina Ramirez

    Hi. I’d just like to ask. We have a photocopy (original got lost by parents)of our title but when checked w RD, it’s not in their system. Property acquired 1983 before the ’88 fire) RD said we need to have it reconstituted. Now I know it will take a while. My question is, are we allowed to sell the property after the reconstitution? Or do we have to wait for X no of years before we’re allowed to sell it? Thank you!

    Reply
    • lawyerphilippinesadmin

      That will depend on the buyer. Some buyers will accept as is.

      This seems like a QC case due to the fire there in 1988 – you might want to check with the RD if administrative reconstitution of title is possible since it will save you time.

      Administrative reconstitution of title is not possible all the time, but this was a big fire and you might be able to still avail of it. Administrative reconstitution of title is cheaper than court and – although it is more likely that you will need to go to court – it is better to check.

      Reply
  31. Charm

    Good Day! Ask ko lang po attorney kung paano po na bumili kami ng lupa. Binigyan po kami deed of sale. Kaso yung original title po ng previous owner nawala nya po. Tapos pumunta po kami sa registry of deeds wala din daw po sakanila yung physical copy ng title po. Yung previous owner nagfile na po reconstitution of loss of title sa trial court. Paano po yun attorney hindi po namin mailipat sa pangalan namin yung tax decleration lumalaki na po yung capital gain tax. At hindi pa po namin mapatituluhan nabili naming lupa kasi need po ng original copy ng title? Naloko po ba kami? Pwede po ba namin ipabalik yung byad namin. Please help us.Thank you.

    Reply
    • Atty. Francesco Britancio

      Sent you an email.

      Reply
  32. Adrian

    I have the same problem with Lou, but in their database they located the titles file(Lot no., etc.) but it has no actual title. RD issued a certification that they could not locate the file in their registry. What should be my next step? how much and how long will reconstitution take?

    Reply
    • Lawyers in the Philippines

      Sent an email.

      Reply
      • Emerita S. Cochon

        Hi can you please help me on the annotation of lost title in my ctc..how can i contact you thanks

    • Eugene

      We bought a land 20yrs ago. We have the owners copy but the RDA and LRA have no copies of our title. The RD says that they might have lost the copy duty to fire and ofc relocation. Property tax are religiously paid annually.

      Reply
      • FCB Law

        It seems that this will require the Philipine Reconstitution of Title described here.

  33. Lou

    My certificate of title according to rd was not properly transmitted.but they say that my owner’s duplicate copy is not fake.but they cannot find my documents.what will i do..how much does rreconstitution cost.

    Reply
    • Lawyers in the Philippines

      Sent an email.

      Reply
  34. Max

    Hello,

    I work with this property owner for a condominium. I’m currently in a situation where the real estate broker who conducted the sale to this property owner hasn’t transferred the title to the buyer’s name. the title is still registered under the previous owners name. we have tried contacting this broker to ask about the transfer and the title. but, this person is uncooperative and unreachable. the current owner has been trying to reach the broker for the last year and nothing has happened. as of today, i have the deed of absolute sale as evidence the sale was done and some tax receipts.

    what should i do? apply for reissuance? file a case against a person who is really hard to find?

    Reply
    • Lawyers in the Philippines

      Sent an email.

      Reply
    • Christine

      The deed of absolute sale should indicate who is responsible for the transfer. Usually, for purchase of a condominium, the buyer is responsible to transfer the title in his/her name and all fees and expenses associated with the transfer.

      Reply
  35. Janine

    Hi,

    I read in this article that if the owner’s duplicate of title is lost or destroyed and the original copy of title in the RD is still intact. Application should be re-issuance of title. May I request for a more detailed process of this? Thank you

    Reply
    • Lawyers in the Philippines

      Sent an email.

      Reply
      • danica

        I read in this article that if the owner’s duplicate of title is lost or destroyed and the original copy of title in the RD is still intact. Application should be re-issuance of title. May I request for a more detailed process of this? Thank you

      • lawyerphilippinesadmin

        Sent you an email.

    • G

      Received an RTC decision that the land my parents bought and we’ve built a house on has been granted reconstitution to it’s orig owner. There are several lots in our area actually, not just ours. And we are inside a village by a known developer. What do we do?

      Reply
      • FCB Law

        We cannot say without seeing the court decision.

        But it may be necessary to file a court case of your own to contest title to the property.

  36. Ben

    Hello,
    I’d like to purchase a property through a broker.
    how would I know the property is authenticated or not?
    Thanks.

    Reply
    • Lawyers in the Philippines

      Hi Ben:

      You’d have to do a lot of research.

      You will need a copy of the title, then you will need to check that the title is valid by going to the Registry of Deeds where the property is located.

      In addition, it is best to ensure that the owner is actually the person named on the title and that he is the person selling the property to you through the broker.

      Reply
      • Alecia

        How much is the cost for judicial reconstitution & breakdowns

      • lawyerphilippinesadmin

        I always ask people to also check with the Registry of Deeds to see if administrative reconstitution of title is possible.

        Administrative reconstitution of title is cheaper than court, so if it is possible use that avenue to restore the missing Registry of Deeds’ title.

    • Marga

      Isn’t it the fault of the RD for titles that are lost under their custody,while the owner still have the copy of the title?

      Reply
      • FCB Law

        Yes, this may be so, but the government is generally immune from suit.

  37. Gudo

    What if my father died and 2 of his lots don’t have a Original title. So I went to LRA to get a CTC of the land and it is still in my father’s name what is the best option to transfer the title on my name. Also have seen someone have requested a copy of original title thru LRA without my father’s consent and us what case can I file to that person?

    Reply
    • Lawyers in the Philippines

      Hi Gudo:

      If the properties do not have a Title and the estate has not been settled, it is important to do both processes as soon as possible to avoid the very heavy fines for late settlement.

      If your father passed on or before Dec 31, 2017, then you may avail of the estate tax amnesty. This is only available for the next 2 years so you must hurry as addressing both issues may take that long, depending on the facts of the case.

      A court case to replace the titles is the only way to replace them in most cases.

      It is very difficult to really comment on your specific situation as not enough information is available.

      Reply
    • Lynne Buhain

      How much is the total cost for reconstitution? Thanks

      Reply
      • lawyerphilippinesadmin

        If Administrative reconstitution of title is not possible and you have to file a Philippine reconstitution of title, the cost increases since you would need to pay for court.

        Check at the Registry of Deeds first to see if Administrative reconstitution of title is possible – if not, you can contact us so that we can give you a cost specific to your case.

  38. Anon

    I understand that this is oddly specific but what if there was a theft of the legal documents to my family’s farm land…
    and this thief was somehow able to sell the land and/or possess it without our permission?

    Reply
    • Lawyers in the Philippines

      Hi:

      You can file a case against the person who sold it.

      The proof, the documents, and the situation must first be assessed however.

      Reply
      • Jet

        Can you please contact me? Would like assistance to reconstitute a title.

      • FCB Law

        Replied to your other message.

    • Jet

      Can you please contact me? Would like assistant to reconstitute a title.

      Reply
    • Lynne Buhain

      How much is the total cost for reconstitution? Thanks

      Reply
      • lawyerphilippinesadmin

        If you have to file a case for Philippine reconstitution of title, you need to pay for lawyer’s fees as well as other costs.

        Since it is the Registry of Deed’s Title missing, check if administrative reconstitution of title is possible.

        If not, email us and we will give you a cost specific to you.

  39. Rahmat Abdullah

    What is the cost of reconstituting a land title if the cost of the property is 2 million pesos?

    Reply
    • Lawyers in the Philippines

      Sent you an email.

      Reply
      • Rainnie McBee

        Hi. Can u send the cost on my email too? Thank you.

      • Adel mil

        How much is the cost for reconstitution of a property in San Juan city of 194.10 square meter value approx 2million pesos or 500k ? What are the steps ? Thank u god bless

      • lawyerphilippinesadmin

        To replace the missing Registry of Deeds title, you will likely need to go to court unless administrative reconstitution of title is possible.

        Administrative reconstitution of title is much cheaper than going to court, so you can save there.

        If Administrative reconstitution is not possible, then you will need to pay for all the work of a court case.

      • Erik

        Hi. May I know also the costing of the reconstitution of title. Thank you.

      • lawyerphilippinesadmin

        Email us for a cost specific to you as it depends on the facts of the case.

        Some cases for reconstitution of title in the philippines are cheaper, some more expensive.

        Howver, it is generally a court case (unless you qualify for Administrative Reconstitution of Title) so be prepared to spend for all the work that entails.

    • Roselee Sales

      Blessed time, Atty. May I ask you a question,please? “The additional copy of my title where my mortgage was annotated, was lost. I’ve got with me my duplicate copy only the additional copy was lost. And I already paid my mortgage to the bank where I owed. But since I lost the said copy the Registry of Deeds won’t be able to Release my mortgage. I already filed an Affidavit of loss to the Registry of Deeds, and it was approved. Now, Atty. Can I ask the Register of Deeds to Cancel my mortgage, or can I process the lost of additional copy via Administrative process? Thank you for your time. God bless po.

      Reply
      • FCB Law

        You may need to file a court case for reissuance of a new copy of the owner’s title.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. What To Do When You’ve Lost Your Philippine Land Title - Lawyers in the Philippines - […] Reconstitution is when the Title to your land held by the Registry of Deeds is also destroyed.  You can…
  2. Philippine Land Title Search - Lawyers in the Philippines - […] and are trying to replace it, check out this detailed post on the only way to do it. Or,…
  3. Philippine Land Title Search - Lawyers in the Philippines - […] and are trying to replace it, check out this detailed post on the only way to do it. Or,…

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