Article 46 Records, etc.

The information contained in any documentation delivered to the registrar of deeds may be recorded and kept in any form he thinks fit, if it is possible to inspect the information and to produce a copy of it in legible form.

The records required to be kept by the registrar of deeds may be kept in any form he thinks fit, if it is possible to inspect the information contained in them and to produce a copy of it in legible form.

Where the records are kept otherwise than in legible form they may be kept by the registrar of deeds or on his behalf in such place as he may direct.

Any reference in the Registration of Deeds Acts (however expressed) to the issue of any documentation by the registrar of deeds may, if he thinks fit, be satisfied by the communication by him of the requisite information by transmission in any non-legible form prescribed by regulations or approved by him.

Where all the information contained in a book or index in the registry of deeds is also kept by the registrar of deeds otherwise than in legible form, the Department may, subject to any rules made under the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923F1 direct that the book or index be removed to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, where it shall be dealt with in accordance with that Act and those rules.

Where any documentation referred to in paragraph (4) is required to be signed or certified, it shall instead be authenticated in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations or approved by the registrar of deeds.

In section 11(1) of the Deeds Act (which requires certain records to be preserved in the registry of deeds and not to be removed from the registry), the words from “and shall be preserved” onwards shall cease to have effect.

In this Article—

“legible” means capable of being read with the naked eye;

“record” includes a file and an index and the books mentioned in sections 9, 10 and 11 of the Deeds Act;

“regulations” means regulations under section 19 of the Deeds Act.