Types of Records held
Registry of Deeds records date from 1708. The Register of Deeds is a public register and any person can, on payment of the prescribed fee, conduct a search of the records.
Our records are held in a combination of manual, micro-film and computer formats. All records from January 1970 onwards are held in electronic format on computer.
1. Names Index
A search of the Names Index under the grantor’s name will allow you to find the relevant reference number of the Memorial/ROD Application Form, the Transcript Book and the Abstract Book. Usually you will need to consult only one of these records to obtain the main details of the deed.
You will be advised by our staff which of these records to consult.
The Names Index is available on computer for the period from 1970 to date.
For records of deeds prior to 1970 you can search the Manual Names Index Records. (A microfilm copy of the Names Index for the period 1708 to 1929 is also available in the National Library.)
2. Memorial/ROD Application Form:
The Memorial/ROD Application Form is the fullest statement of the relevant elements of a Deed the Registry of Deeds can supply. The information contained in a Memorial/ROD Application Form includes the date of the deed, nature of the deed, details of the parties to the deed and a description of the property affected by the deed.
By carrying out a Names Index search you can obtain the relevant registry reference/Serial number which will lead to our microfilmed records for Memorials for the period 1930 to date.
Memorials registered prior to 1930 (i.e. between 1708 and 1930) have not been microfilmed. However, a certified copy of any Memorial/ROD Application Form can be obtained on payment of the relevant fee.
From 1 May 2008 the Memorial was replaced by ROD Application Forms.
3. Transcript Book:
Memorials were fully transcribed and copied into Transcript Books. The Transcript Book gives the full details of the contents of a Memorial verbatim. They are available from 1708 – 1950 and from 1957 – 1960.
Recording in the Transcript Book ceased in 1961.
4. Abstract Book:
An Abstract Book is an abridged version of the details contained in the Memorial. An Abstract exhibits the registration number (year, Book & No.), Date of Registration, Name and Date of Instrument, the names of the Grantor and one Grantee, consideration (if any), the description of the property and general nature of the deed. The Abstract Book covers the period from 1833 to 1969.
Computer records replaced the Abstract Book for records of deeds registered from 1970 onwards.
5. Townlands Index:
If you do not know the name of the Grantor this index is a valuable research source. This index exists from 1708 to 1946. If the record of the deed was registered after 1946 you will not be able to carry out a Townlands Index search and must rely on a names index search.
Once you have discovered the name of the grantor it is possible to carry out a Names Index Search.
Published 11 August 2010