Register of certifications of official examiners of title

Chronological.

The State Legislature, by virtue of Chapter 444 of the laws of 1908, introduced the Torrens system as an alternative method of real property title registration. Under the system, landowners were required to submit an application for registration of title to the Supreme Court. The court, after conducting appropriate proceedings, would direct the issuance of a certificate of title. Under the Torrens system, a certificate of title sufficed to show full, valid, and indefeasible title to real property.

Before application was made for registration, each title had to be thoroughly examined and certified by an official examiner of title. Persons admitted to practice law in New York and corporations authorized by State law to guarantee or insure titles to real property were eligible to be licensed as official examiners of title. The Court of Appeals was responsible for prescribing rules regulating licensing of title examiners. A qualified candidate was licensed to practice as an official examiner of title by an order of the department of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in which he resided.

This register was used by the State Board of Law Examiners to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court to record certifications of official examiners of title. Only eleven certifications were recorded, leaving most of the volume blank. Actual certificates were detached and mailed to licensees. All that remains in the volume are stubs listing the certificate number, in order issued, and the following information regarding each licensee: name; residence; office address; date when examined by Board of Law Examiners; place where examination took place; date certificate issued; judicial department that issued certificate; and in some cases, date when certificate was mailed.

Series J2025, Register of applications of examiners of title, contains related records.

Although no documentation exists regarding the transfer of this volume, it was most likely transferred to the State Archives by the Court of Appeals. The volume was accessioned in conjunction with a facility renovation project undertaken in 2003.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.