Prezentata Section and
Searches Unit – Public Registry
The main function of the Searches Unit is to provide official searches against individuals and entities in connection with the enrolment of notes pertaining to the transfer, inter vivos as well as causa mortis of immovable property and the registration of notes of hypothec and privilege, which secure obligations such as loans and payment of ground-rents.
Searches carried in connection with the transfer of property and obligations, known as “Transfers and Liabilities”, are normally requested when deeds for transfer of property under any title and deeds of obligations are drawn up.
Deeds in connection with Public Wills, known as Certificates of Wills, establish whether any will made by a particular individual is enrolled with the Public Registries of Malta and Gozo.
PREZENTATA SECTION
Services offered at Prezentata Section include:
- Enrolment and Registration of Notes by Notaries;
- Registration of judgments or decrees delivered or given by the Courts of Justice;
- Countersigning of official searches;
- Attending court sittings.
FRONT OFFICE
Services offered at Front Office include:
- Ordering searches and testamentary wills;
- Delivering searches prepared by back office to clients and collecting payment;
- Collecting payment in connection with notes received by Prezentata Section;
- Customer Care Service to the general public;
BACK OFFICE
This section processes orders either received from Front Office, submitted by the general public online, or submitted by registered users through the Searches system. The Back Office is responsible for the index of every enrolment received by the Prezentata Section (using full name and parental details).
Searches
A search may be ordered in relation to any company. There are two types of searches; (a) Transfers and (b) Liabilities.
The scope of ordering a ‘transfer’ search is to find out what immovable property a firm owns. The search will only yield results if the property is acquired by a public deed and is enrolled by a Notary Public at the Public Registry office. For instance, a person may order a transfer search on a particular firm in the period between 1990 and 2012. Therefore, all property acquired by contract during that period will feature in the search results.
On the other hand, a ‘liabilities’ search will reveal whether the firm has any privileges or hypothecs securing any obligations, such as loans and payment of ground-rents.
A search may be ordered in relation to any person. There are two types of searches; (a) Transfers and (b) Liabilities.
The scope of ordering a ‘transfer’ search is to find out what immovable property a person owns. The search will only yield results if the property is acquired by a public deed and is enrolled by a Notary Public at the Public Registry office.
On the other hand, a ‘liabilities’ search will reveal whether the person has any privileges or hypothecs securing any obligations, such as loans and payment of ground-rents.
A testamentary search may be ordered on any person (living or deceased) in order to determine whether the person in case has registered a public will or not. The search will not reveal the will’s content, but it will disclose the date and time of the will and the Notary Public who published the same will. The content of the will can only be seen by the person drawing up the will or by his/her heirs. The search result does not include secret wills as the latter have to be ordered from the Voluntary Jurisdiction Section of the Civil Court. Before ordering testamentary searches it is important to allow 21 days to pass from the date of the person’s demise.
Public Wills
A testamentary search may be ordered on any person (living or deceased) to determine whether the person in case had registered a public will or not. The search will not reveal the content of the will itself, but a summary stating the date of the will and the Notary Public who published the same will. The contents of the will can only be seen by the person drawing up the will or by his/her heirs.
Secret Wills
This application may also be used to search for secret wills of a deceased person. Such wills are deposited at the Civil Court (Voluntary Jurisdiction Section). Applicants will be informed of the result of the search and if it proves to be positive, an application for the publication of the secret will may be filed with the Court Registry by an advocate or a Notary Public.
Land Valuation & Decontrol Office
Customers, or their legal representative, are to fill in the prescribed form stipulated in Article 3 of the Housing (Decontrol) Ordinance of 1959. The form is to be submitted together with the deed of acquisition of property and other supporting documents (if applicable). After the necessary verification is carried out, an Order of Decontrol, duly signed by the director or his representative, is issued. A certificate of Decontrol can also be issued on request.
The Land Valuation Office incorporates thousands of files (notices) containing proof of ownership of residential tenements and other relevant details (such as rental values, Rent Regulation Board judgments, details on deeds of transfers relating to the property in question and other correspondence). The registration of property was carried out between 1939 and 1948 and was officially required in the wake of the setting up of the War Damage Fund.
Notaries mainly utilise this service in preparation of the drafting of contracts.
Opening Hours (Malta & Gozo)
Front Office and Prezentata Section
From Monday to Friday, except on public holidays.
Summer (16th June till 30th September) – 07:30am till noon
Winter* (1st October till 15th June) – 08:00am till 01:00pm.
*Offices will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday of Holy Week.
Searches Unit – Gozo
From Monday to Friday, except on public holidays.
Summer (16th June till 30th September) – 07:30am till noon
Winter (1st October till 15th June) – 08:00am till 01:00pm.
