Lagfäst

Lagfäst is the Swedish term referring to ownership that has been officially registered in the land registry. In Sweden, lagfart is the official registration of real property ownership with Lantmäteriet, the government agency responsible for the land and property register. The person whose name appears on the lagfart is recognized as the legal owner of the property.

The register of lagfart is typically updated when ownership changes hands through a property transfer, usually following a sale. The buyer or their representative submits a request to Lantmäteriet, along with required documents such as the purchase agreement and deed of transfer. Lantmäteriet reviews the submission and, if everything is in order, records the new owner and issues the lagfart. The registration provides a formal proof of ownership and, in practice, is often necessary for activities such as obtaining a mortgage, where lenders require that the buyer’s ownership be lagfäst.

The term lagfäst is also used as an adjective to describe someone or something that has had its ownership recorded in the lagfart. Lagfart is distinct from related concepts such as encumbrances or mortgages (pantbrev/inteckning), which concern rights other than ownership. The process and rules governing lagfäst are part of Swedish property law and are administered by Lantmäteriet.