What it is
An encumbrance certificate (EC) is issued by the sub-registrar's office and lists every registered transaction against a specific property over a period you specify — sales, gifts, mortgages, leases and similar. A "nil encumbrance" result is typically issued as Form 16, meaning no registered transaction turned up for that span; any hits typically print as Form 15, with the transacting parties, document number and date for each. It reflects only registered instruments, not every claim that might exist on the land.
Why it matters when you buy
Before paying for a property, buyers pull the EC over a meaningful span — how far back to check is worth discussing with whoever is helping you close the deal — to confirm the seller's chain of ownership is clean and to check whether an existing mortgage or lien needs clearing before registration. An EC that shows an unreleased mortgage, or a transaction nobody mentioned to you, is a reason to pause and ask direct questions rather than proceed on the seller's word alone.
Where you find it
The EC is available for self-service search and download through tnreginet.gov.in, Tamil Nadu's registration department portal, by entering the property and sub-registrar office details for the jurisdiction it falls under. It can also be requested in person at the relevant sub-registrar's office if you need a certified physical copy or run into trouble locating the record online.
What it does not prove
An EC reports registered entries for the supplied property details and period. It is not a title certificate and cannot by itself rule out unregistered interests, defects in the deed chain or physical boundary issues.