The Most Common Errors in Applications for Land Registry Entries

3. October 2026

8 minutes of reading

Shrnutí: Errors in the application for registration in the land registry can lead to delays in the proceedings and, in some cases, even to the rejection of the registration. In 2026, it is therefore important to review not only the application for registration in the real estate cadastre itself, but also the purchase or gift agreement, the correct identification of the parties and the property, and all necessary attachments. We will show you the most common errors and their possible consequences.

Quick Overview: What to Watch Out for When Filing a Petition for Registration

Check the information about the parties involved. An error in a name, address, or other identifying information can cause complications.
Both the property and the right being registered must be precisely identified. The application must match the information recorded in the land registry.
Review the registration document. An error in the purchase agreement, deed of gift, or other contract may prevent the registration from being approved.
Don’t forget the required attachments. Depending on the specific situation, additional documents may be required in addition to the contract.
Expect to pay a fee. The standard fee for accepting an application to initiate proceedings for registration approval is 2,000 CZK.

Do you want to be sure that neither the application for registration nor the contract contains an error that would cause the Land Registry to deny the transfer? Our attorneys will prepare or review the contract and supporting documents for registration in the Land Registry and guide you through the real estate transfer process.

The application for registration must also be accompanied by a “legal title” —most commonly a purchase agreement or a certified copy thereof with officially certified signatures. In certain specific cases, additional documents may be required if the law mandates them for that particular situation.

Documents written in a foreign language (with the exception of Slovak) must be submitted in their original language and accompanied by an officially certified translation into Czech.

The Land Registry Office does not merely check whether you have filled out the form. Under the Cadastral Act, it also assesses the registration document itself. For example, it checks whether it meets the required formalities, whether its content actually justifies the proposed registration, whether the legal act was executed in the prescribed form, and whether the parties are authorized to dispose of the real property.

Errors in the application for registration in the Land Registry are therefore not the only problem. Failure can also result from a defective purchase or gift agreement, or a discrepancy between the agreement and the information recorded in the Land Registry.

Our experience shows that problems often arise not just when filling out the form itself. It is equally important to verify that the application accurately corresponds to the attached contract and the information recorded in the land registry. The most common stumbling blocks are errors in either the purchase contract or the application for registration. Correcting such errors can end up costing a person a great deal. Sometimes even a minor error in the address or description of the property can lead to the entire transfer failing. Often, the error does not even originate with the parties to the transfer. For example, we handled a case where, while certifying a signature at the Czech Embassy in Switzerland, a clerk failed to place the stamp correctly on the label, and the land registry refused to recognize the certification for that reason. It took a considerable amount of effort to correct the error.

letecký pohled na zastavěnou část vesnice

Tip for article

Tip: The Real Estate Cadastre is a public registry that contains a wide variety of information about the properties listed in it. The creation, modification, or termination of rights to these properties becomes effective only after the relevant cadastral office has entered the information into the cadastre. We cover this topic in a separate article.

During a mass transfer of real estate (specifically, the transfer of apartments into private ownership), we encountered an amusing situation. One client accidentally printed out and submitted to the Land Registry a draft contract that included all comments and revisions—and even some errors. Otherwise, the contract was perfect in terms of content. Unfortunately, however, the document listed only a contact address, not a permanent residence address, and also included the client’s name with a typo. The correct information was provided only in the comments. Fortunately, in this case, it was possible to resolve everything by making corrections directly with the officials. Nevertheless, it’s best to avoid such mistakes, as they can cause problems elsewhere. It’s always better to prevent issues than to deal with the complicated consequences later.

Also, be careful with all sorts of templates that are freely available for download on the internet. We handled a case involving a retiree from Prague, Mr. Karel. He downloaded an apartment transfer agreement and thought he could fill it out himself, submit it to the land registry, and easily transfer the apartment to his son. However, the Land Registry returned the contract to him. The transfer was halted. Moreover, it wasn’t at all clear to Mr. Karel why this had happened. It later turned out that in the “size” field of the template document, he had entered the apartment’s floor area. However, he was supposed to have entered the size of his share in the common areas of the building. That was the crux of the matter. At the time, this mistake cost Mr. Karel the entire administrative fee for the application for registration. Today, the fee for accepting a standard application to initiate registration proceedings is 2,000 CZK. The loss could have been much higher if the transfer had ultimately failed to go through due to a minor error in the contract.

An application for registration can fail even if it is formally flawless. Therefore, before the transfer, verify that the seller is not restricted in disposing of the property—for example, due to enforcement proceedings. This is very important because enforcement proceedings are subject to the principle prohibiting the disposal of assets. As a result, the transfer might not take place at all, and the entire situation could come to a standstill. Ideally, the seller should assure the buyer directly in the purchase agreement that the seller is not subject to any enforcement proceedings and, to the best of the seller’s knowledge, no such proceedings are pending.

Tip for article

Tip: Selling a single-family home is a process that involves a whole series of legal steps. Even a minor mistake can cost you dearly—at best, it will cost you a lot of time; at worst, it could cost you money. How can you sell your property while avoiding unpleasant consequences?

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Proposal for entry into the Land Registry

Measure twice, cut once. That goes for official filings as well. Enrolment in the Land Registry is a formality, but a very important formality that is not to be underestimated. Do you need to register an easement in the Land Registry? Or a lien so you don’t lose the money you borrowed?

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The same applies if the seller is in insolvency proceedings. This can be easily verified in the insolvency registry on the Ministry of Justice’s website.

Problems when purchasing real estate often arise because the seller or buyer relies entirely on a real estate agency or broker, trusts them “blindly,” and fails to verify the information they receive. In practice, this situation leads to an unnecessarily high commission paid by the buyer, the risk that the seller will not be paid for the property, and a number of other problems that can be relatively easily prevented. The best course of action is to consult an attorney who understands these issues.

Summary

An application for registration in the real estate cadastre must correspond to the attached contract, the information in the cadastre, and legal requirements. Errors in identifying the parties or the property, a defective contract, missing documents, or restrictions on the owner’s ability to dispose of the property can complicate the entire process and sometimes even result in the registration being denied. Therefore, it is worth reviewing not only the form itself but the entire transfer before submitting it to the land registry.

We prepared this article for the Lidové noviny series “Law & Housing.” Be sure to check out other articles in the series:

Tip for article

Tip: You have a purchase agreement in hand, but you’re not yet the owner. You now need to file an application to register the property in the land registry. Standard registrations of ownership rights or easements may not seem particularly complicated at first glance, but there are a few basic rules you should know to ensure everything goes smoothly. We’ve broken it down in a separate article.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an error in an application for registration be corrected after it has been filed?

It depends on the type of error. Some deficiencies can be corrected during the proceedings, or the missing documentation can be provided; others may result in the registration being denied. Therefore, it is best to review both the application and the registration document before filing them.

Can only the new owner file an application for registration?

No. The parties to a contribution proceeding are persons whose rights are created, modified, or expanded as a result of the contribution, as well as persons whose rights are extinguished, modified, or restricted.

Does the application for registration have to be signed by all parties to the transfer?

The Cadastral Act requires the applicant’s signature. It is therefore important to distinguish between the parties to the registration proceedings and the person who actually files the application.

What happens to the administrative fee if the Land Registry does not approve the registration?

Failure in the application process alone does not automatically mean that the administrative fee paid will be refunded. Resubmitting the application may therefore result in additional costs.

Is it possible to file an application for registration without a lawyer?

Yes. Representation by an attorney is not a general requirement for filing a petition. However, in the case of more complex transfers, having a lawyer review the contract and the petition can prevent errors that would complicate the registration process.

Article topic:

Land Registry Office

Are you solving a similar problem?

Proposal for entry into the Land Registry

I want to help

When you order, you know what you will get and how much it will cost.
We handle everything online or in person at one of our 6 offices.
We handle 8 out of 10 requests within 2 working days.
We have specialists for every field of law.

Author of the article

JUDr. Ondřej Preuss, Ph.D.

Ondřej is the attorney who came up with the idea of providing legal services online. He's been earning his living through legal services for more than 15 years. He especially likes to help clients who may have given up hope in solving their legal issues at work, for example with real estate transfers or copyright licenses.

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