Wild Deed

In Jamaica, a wild deed refers to a legal document that is signed and sealed, granting specific rights or interests in property. While it is recorded, it is not linked to the property’s chain of title, which can cause significant issues if the chain of title is contested. The term “wild” is used because such a deed can be challenging to trace. Searches in the grantor or grantee index may not reveal the existence of the deed, and if prior transactions are not recorded, it can complicate future property transfers. A subsequent buyer may not receive proper notice of the wild deed, leading to potential enforcement issues, especially if the deed has been sold to multiple parties. Similar to problems seen in 2008 with “robo-signing” in mortgages, where documents were not properly registered, wild deeds present serious challenges in the property and mortgage sectors.