First find out whether the copy is missing or whether an ownership link is unexplained. A later deed or EC may contain details that help locate the earlier registered record.
Ask one specific question at a time
“The mother deed is missing” can mean several things. The original may be with a lender, a scan may be unavailable, or no one may have explained an earlier transfer. Ask where the document was last held and whether its number, year and registration office appear in another record. Keep the answer in writing with the file so the reviewer sees the same explanation you received.
Keep the search separate from the purchase decision
There are two questions here: can a copy be found, and what does its absence mean for you? Finding a document number helps with the first. The second needs the rest of the title papers. If an advance or signing date is approaching, tell the reviewer while the search is underway. Do not let “we have applied for it” become the only explanation in your purchase file.
Checks to keep with your file
- Mark the earlier document references in later deeds.
- Collect the document number, year and office details if available.
- Keep a note of attempts already made to obtain the record.
- Tell the reviewer if the seller says the record cannot be produced.
The next step
Bring the available references to the review. A copy request may help, but the lawyer still needs to decide what the missing record means for your purchase.
Can a certified copy solve every missing-document issue?
It may help establish the contents of a recorded instrument. Whether it is sufficient for your transaction depends on the wider facts and the reviewer’s assessment.
Related reading
For current records and requirements, use the official sources below. Advice about your own property needs a review of its documents.
Kaveri Online Services · Government of Karnataka ↗Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority ↗How we publish and handle corrections →Have a question about this guide? Ask Proplegal on WhatsApp ↗