Kinnistus

Kinnistus is an Estonian legal term referring to an entry in the land register that records rights related to real property. An individual kinnistus records a legal relation over a specific parcel of land, including ownership, mortgage liens, easements, and restrictions on use. The primary function of kinnistus is to provide public notice of rights and to establish their priority in case of competing claims. Each real property has a kinnistus entry or series of entries in the land register (kinnistusraamat), which is maintained by the relevant registration authority.

Entries are created when a real property transaction occurs, such as transfer of ownership, establishment of a mortgage, or creation of a servitude. They are updated to reflect changes, such as sale, encumbrances, or extinguishment of rights. A certified extract from the land register can be used as evidence of the kinnistus and its contents in legal proceedings and in dealings with lenders.

In common usage, kinnistus is part of the broader field of property law in Estonia. Related terms include kinnistu (real property/parcel) and kinnistusraamat (land register). In comparative contexts, kinnistus corresponds to concepts such as land registration, title registration, or encumbrance records found in other legal systems.