Electronic Signatures and Registered Land – No Change in Practice Despite New Irish Regulations
The move towards e-conveyancing in Ireland has been aided by the introduction of the Electronic Commerce Act 2000 (Application of sections 12 to 23 to Registered Land) Regulations 2022 (the “Regulations”) which amend the Electronic Commerce Act 2000 (the “E-Commerce Act”) by providing that the E-Commerce Act shall apply to the law governing the manner in which an interest in registered land, i.e. property which is registered in the Land Registry, may be created, acquired, disposed of or registered. This amendment allows for the legal recognition of the electronic execution of documents dealing with interests in registered land.
- Published
- in Industry Updates
Previously, interests in land were specifically excluded from the ambit of the E-Commerce Act. The Regulations represent a U-turn on this position with respect to registered land. The Regulations apply to interests in registered land only. Interests in unregistered land, i.e. property registered in the Registry of Deeds only, remain outside the ambit of the E-Commerce Act for the time being.