Gift deed
Encumbrance Certificate & Title Search in Patna
Known locally as Encumbrance Certificate (दान पत्र). Drafted, verified and registered by Bihar legal partners — fixed fee from ₹1,999 onwards*.
Serving Patna and the surrounding belt: Danapur, Hajipur, Bihta, Fatuha, Barh, Masaurhi, Arrah, Nalanda, Muzaffarpur and Gaya.
The above charges do not include government fees, stamp duty, or any additional incidental / out-of-pocket expenses incurred at government offices.
Encumbrance Certificate stamp duty & registration charges in Patna
Under the Registration Act, 1908. Most Patna properties fall within Patna Municipal Corporation / PRDA limits.
Digitised registration records in Bihar generally begin in the late 1990s or early 2000s. Earlier periods need a physical Sub-Registrar search, and an online nil result for those years proves nothing.
How a encumbrance certificate is registered in Patna
- Identify the property precisely by survey or plot number.
- Decide the search period — 13 years for bank purposes, 30 years for proper diligence.
- Apply through Bihar Registration / Bhumijankari for the digitised period.
- Conduct a physical Sub-Registrar search for earlier years.
- Obtain certified copies of every deed disclosed.
- Cross-check against Jamabandi, via Bihar Bhumi.
- Have a legal partner trace the chain and issue a written opinion.
Documents required in Patna
- Property schedule and survey number
- Original title deed / mother deed and the prior chain
- Encumbrance Certificate or equivalent search record
- Latest property tax paid receipt
- Aadhaar and PAN of all parties and witnesses
- Proof of relationship, where a family concession is claimed
Sub-Registrar Offices in Patna
Patna SadarPatna CityDanapurBarhMasaurhiPaliganjFatuha
Local terms used in Patna registration offices
Mutation in revenue records
Record of Rights
What goes wrong — Bihar and Patna specifics
Land survey and record modernisation is ongoing
Bihar's special survey and record updation programme is actively redrawing records across districts. Parcels mid-survey can show inconsistencies between the old and new records, and transactions during that window need particular care.
An encumbrance search only shows what was registered
Unregistered transactions, pending litigation, tax dues and oral family arrangements do not appear. A clean search is necessary but nowhere near sufficient.
Search 30 years, not 13
Thirteen years satisfies most banks, but limitation runs to twelve years against a private party and thirty against government. Defects frequently sit further back.
Statewide land survey is actively redrawing records
Bihar's special survey and record updation programme is redrawing records district by district. Parcels mid-survey can show inconsistencies between the old and new records, and transacting during that window needs particular care.
Ceiling surplus and Bhoodan land
Bihar has extensive ceiling-surplus and Bhoodan land whose transfer is restricted, and the restriction survives subsequent sales.
Encumbrance Certificate services across Patna
Encumbrance Certificate FAQs — Patna
How do I get an encumbrance certificate (EC) in Patna?
An EC is obtained from Bihar Registration / Bhumijankari or the Sub-Registrar Office for the survey/property number and period you specify. For a purchase we recommend a 13 to 30-year search plus a written title opinion, not just the raw EC.
What does an encumbrance certificate show for a Patna property?
It lists the registered transactions on the property — sales, gifts, mortgages and liens — over the searched period. It does not, on its own, confirm marketable title, which is why a lawyer's opinion on the deed chain matters.
How long does a 30-year title search take in Patna?
An online EC can be same-day to a few working days; a full 30-year search with a written opinion typically takes 4–6 working days for drafting and verification, longer where older records must be inspected physically.
Is an online EC enough before buying property in Patna?
Not by itself. The EC shows registered entries but can miss unregistered claims, litigation and title defects. Pair it with certified deed copies and a legal title opinion before you commit money.
What details are needed to run an EC search in Patna?
The property's survey/plot number, the Patna Municipal Corporation / PRDA address, the owner's name and the period to be searched. The prior sale deed helps trace the chain accurately.