Torrens Certificate
Categories: Real Estate
It sounds like the mcguffin from a fantasy novel. "Zounds! Baromede must fight in the Pits of Asburoon to obtain Torrens Certificate. If he is mighty enough to succeed, he can trade Torrens Certificate for the hand of Lady Pullmiloader."
Unfortunately, it's not quite so dramatic. It's a particular type of document that grants title to a piece of property. However, in true Lord of the Rings fashion, it does have a "one certificate to rule them all" kind of vibe. It acts as the controlling authority over a piece of property, with legal supremacy over other claims.
It's named after an Australian from the mid-19th Century, Robert Torrens, who invented the concept to simplify the process of selling land. With a Torrens Certificate, it isn't necessary to record deeds. So, theoretically, it makes the process easier, especially if you happen to live on the frontier of Australia at a time when much of the population was either kangaroos or convicts.
Still, it's a relatively minor alternative to the standard practice of deed recording. The Torrens Certificates are used in fewer than a dozen U.S. states.
