ST. STEPHEN (GNB) – Lawyers and land surveyors can now file almost all legal documents and plans online with the new Provincial Land Registration Office.

An official opening was held today in St. Stephen.

“The consolidation and modernization of the land registration office to allow sending scanned documents online is part of the government’s efforts to use technology and innovation to increase efficiency and eliminate duplication across government,” said Health Minister Benoît Bourque, who is also minister responsible for Service New Brunswick. “About 97 per cent of the users of the land registry are lawyers and land surveyors so the ability to file additional documents electronically is something that is more convenient and overdue.”

The 13 existing land registration offices will continue to accept paper documents until the end of June. After that, all paper documents and plans will need to be submitted to the provincial office in St. Stephen either online for lawyers and land surveyors; or, for others, by mail, courier, or in person.

Modernization over the previous eight years has enabled about 75 per cent of land registration documents to be submitted electronically. Recent changes to the Land Titles Act and Registry Act now allows almost all legal documents and plans to be submitted electronically.

Land ownership and property mapping information will continue to be available on kiosk computers at the 13 Service New Brunswick centres where the traditional county-based land registration offices were located.