QUESTION: Dear Legal Wiz,

I got information that a diagram is needed to register title for land in Jamaica. It was explained that land surveying needs to be carried out. Can you explain what land surveying in Jamaica is about? How do I find someone who can do it?

Shawn Rhule

RESPONSE:
Dear Shawn Rhule,
Surveying is ‘in basic’ terms done to establish an address for you and this is therefore a critical stage in the registering of one’s land. The surveyor of your property which includes land and building, visits the location and carries out tasks such as measuring, mapping, and describing all that it entails, and especially in relation to its location and neighbourhood, so that it can be found by anyone after an address is assigned.
In summary surveying of land is done to establish where the boundaries of the area are located. Hence the diagram represents the finding and results of the tasks carried out. Information provided in the diagram includes shape, dimension, the name and address of all neighbouring locations on all boundaries.
Surveying is done for many reasons, the most popular being to assist in the process of registering one’s land to obtain a title at the Registrar of Titles Office. Most importantly it establishes boundaries between neighbours and clarifies what is owned and by whom.
Once the diagram from the surveyor is obtained, the applicant for the title will then acquire the other items on the requirement list and make application to be processed for a title.
In Jamaica, getting a good land surveyor is not very difficult. There is an association of land surveyors that you can get information on from the yellow pages. Some land surveyors can be reached online. You also can simply get one that’s recommended from a trusted source.
We have on our team qualified and experienced surveyors, with references who can assist you further, if preferred.
All the best!
Legal Wiz