While they have been administratively obsolete since 1898, they continue to be used in land registration, and specification such as in planning permissions.
Under these systems, the government determines title ownership and encumbrances using its land registration; with only a few exceptions, the government's determination is conclusive.
While it is possible to fortify land registration systems to prevent the registration of forged deeds, the necessary countermeasures are complex and expensive.
These functions of land administration may be organized in terms of agencies responsible for surveying and mapping, land registration, and land valuation.
