The Register of Deeds contains original documents. Most commonly wills, leases and minutes of agreement.
You can:
QES guidance for customers
The Register of Deeds accepts electronic documents signed by a qualified electronic signature (QES) (subject to limited exceptions) through digital submission.
There is an online form for this service (through online services login), where you can upload electronic documents signed with QES only.
You can also submit mixed format deeds. If you have a single application that comprises a collection of both wet signed documents and QES signed documents (such as missives or counterpart documents), you must submit the QES signed document first and you will be able to print a confirmation page to submit by post with the wet signed document.
Further information is available on our Knowledge base.
Demo video for QES only submissions
Demo video for mixed format submissions
Register a deed
You can register an original paper deed using our Books of Council and Session (C&S 1) form (pdf, 115KB)
You can post your deed to us via DX delivery or Royal Mail.
Royal Mail
Register of Scotland
Meadowbank House 153 London Road
EDINBURGH
EH8 7AU
DX Exchange courier network
Registers of Scotland
DX 555400
Edinburgh 15
The registration of a deed takes up to three working days. For the issue of extracts, it’s up to 15 working days.
The posting out date for extracts is 16th April 2024.
Registration is voluntary. There’s usually no legal requirement to register deeds.
Cost
It costs £20 for the registration of a deed and issue of an extract in the Register of Deeds.
The cost goes up by increments of £20 + VAT for each additional extract.
Search the register
If you have a business user login, you can search the register using ScotLIS.
If you don’t have an account, you can order deeds from the register.
Support
You can read detailed guidance on the Register of Deeds including fees, signatures, deeds signed with QES and the C&S 1 application form.
See guidance on how the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax relates to registers in the Books of Council and Session.
Email cajr@ros.gov.uk.
About the register
The register’s full name is the Register of Deeds and Probative Writs in the Books of Council and Session. Its origins lie in the mid-1500s.
The Register of Deeds is one of three registers that comprise the Books of Council and Session.
The other two are the Register of Judgments and the Register of Protests.