Land Court Law and Legal Definition
Land court means a court exercising jurisdiction over registration of title to land and matters incidental thereto. A land court hears and determines all questions arising under registration procedure.
In the U.S., land courts has statewide jurisdiction. The land court has exclusive, original jurisdiction over the registration of title to real property, and over all matters and disputes concerning such title subsequent to registration. The court also exercises exclusive original jurisdiction over the foreclosure and redemption of real estate tax liens.
The following is an example of a state law (Hawaii) explaining the establishment and jurisdiction of a land court. Pursuant to HRS § 501-1, “A court is established, called the land court, which shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of all applications for the registration of title to land and easements or rights in land held and possessed in fee simple within the State, with power to hear and determine all questions arising upon such applications, and also have jurisdiction over such other questions as may come before it under this chapter, subject to the rights of appeal under this chapter. The proceedings upon the applications shall be proceedings in rem against the land, and the decrees shall operate directly on the land and vest and establish title thereto.”
