What is a Title Deed?
A Title Deed is a legal document or certificate that proves the ownership of property. Title Deeds are commonly used to establish the ownership of real estate. A real estate Title Deed usually contains a detailed description of the property and often its location; the name of the owner [or owners] of the property; and may also specify any legal rights attached to the property or the ownership of the property.
There are two types of title deed:
1. Soft Title
2. Hard Title
Title Deeds in Cambodia
There are several different types of Title Deed in Cambodia, ranging from locally-produced ownership documents [Village or Commune level] up to government-level ownership registration. Different types of Title Deeds may have differing degrees of security of tenure attached to them. As a general rule, the higher the administrative level at which ownership documentation is produced and/or recorded the higher the level of security of tenure. Locally-produced Title Deeds are generally acceptable to Cambodian citizens. However, foreigners seeking to invest in Cambodian real estate are advised to seek the stronger forms of ownership documentation.
Title Deeds for Foreigners
How a foreigner registers the ownership of any property they buy, on a Title Deed, depends on which purchase method the foreigner chooses to use. For example, if a foreigner chooses to form a Cambodian-registered company in order to invest in property, the company name would normally appear on the Title Deed and the ownership of the property would be recorded at government level. This is a highly secure method of recording ownership.
Other methods may involve using the name of a Cambodian citizen on the Title Deed and creating additional legal documents to protect the foreigner’s investment.
Transfer of Ownership Rights
Successful transfer of ownership rights from seller to buyer is the most important stage of a real estate transaction.
source: angkorrealestate.com