Catalogue description Land Registry: Legal Practice Division: Practice Books

The Legal Practice Division (LPD) is based at Land Registry headquarters and provides policy on the legal aspects of Land Registry's work. The work of LPD is not confined to issuing instructions but also embraces the creation and modification of records and procedures required for operational convenience by the Legal Branches in the district land registries.

LPD ensures that consistent practice is maintained throughout the district registries, and is involved in other tasks including the control of outside counsel; the revision of forms; compliance with the Data Protection Act; the approval of draft instruments for use on building estates and other developing titles; the organisation and control of the Departmental Staff Suggestion Scheme; and contentious business (including claims for indemnity)

.Legal Branch is primarily concerned with the creation and maintenance of registers and files and the carrying out of the pre-registration services that are offered to the public. Staff employed on Legal Branch duties deal with the processing of applications for registration. This involves the interpretation of deeds lodged in support of the application and the preparation of draft registers. Legal Branch also deals with correspondence and enquiries regarding topics falling within their responsibility.