Torrens Law and Legal Definition
Torrens refers to a system for registering the ownership of real property in government records. The system is designed to mke it unnecessary to prove a chain of title through tracing the seller's title through a series of documents. Each parcel of land is identified by reference to a numbered plan. Each lot of land is the subject of a separate folio in the register. The folio records the dimensions of the land and its boundaries, the names of the registered proprietors, and any legal interests that affect title to the land. The certificate of title is conclusive as to the state of title, unless certain exceptions, like fraud apply.
Unlike deed registration systems, which registers legal documents, the Torrens system registers the title of owners. Once registered, the registration has "priority" over all others that are either unregistered or not registered until later.
