Jersey's system of freehold conveyancing is very much a
public procedure and always has been.
The system has its origins in the old medieval practice which
can be traced back to the sixteenth century of passing contracts
relating to freehold property in the Island in the churchyard of
the relevant parish subsequent to Sunday service 'within
witness of the parish'. Eventually contracts came to be passed
before the Royal Court as opposed to the parish churchyard.
In 1602, Sir Walter Raleigh as Governor of the Island decreed
that all contracts relating to land passed before the Royal Court
should be recorded in the rolls of the Public Registry. It is hence
possible to have access in the Public Registry to title deeds going
back to 1602.
