How to Apply for an Ancestor Land Search and Required Documents — Heirs Can Request Cadastral Computer Data Without Prior Review

Procedure

1. 1. Check eligibility and the date of death

   Those who can apply without the review are the landowner and the heirs of a deceased landowner. Under Articles 1000 and 1003 of the Civil Act, heirs rank as lineal descendants, lineal ascendants, siblings, and collateral blood relatives within the fourth degree, and the spouse ranks equally with lineal descendants or lineal ascendants. According to local government guidance, the land of a parent, spouse or child who died on or after January 1, 2008 can be searched online, and for deaths before that date you apply in person at the city, county or district office.

2. 2. Prepare documents proving the inheritance relationship

   Prepare documents that show the death and that the applicant is an heir. For a deceased person with a family relationship register, use the basic certificate and family relation certificate; for a death before that system, use a certified copy of the removed family register. If a higher-ranking heir has already died, documents connecting through that person's death are also needed to confirm the relationship.

3. 3. Complete the application to use cadastral computer data

   On Form No. 72-2 of the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Establishment and Management of Spatial Data, enter the data to be used, the purpose, the legal basis and the scope of the data. When an heir applies for the deceased's land, the review result of the central administrative agency is not attached, under Article 62(3) of the Enforcement Decree. If you do not know where the ancestor's land is, set the scope to nationwide.

4. 4. Submit to the city, county or district office and receive the result

   Because nationwide data can also be requested from the cadastral authority, submit the application to the cadastral division of a nearby city hall or district office. The processing period on the form is 7 days, and a request may be refused if it cannot be processed by the computer system or would interfere with cadastral work. The result is provided as cadastral records such as the location and area of each parcel.

5. 5. Follow-up checks on the parcels found

   For each parcel found, obtain the land register and the certified copy of the real estate register to see whether the deceased is still recorded as the owner. Also check the land use plan confirmation for the zoning district and any urban or county planning facility restrictions. Based on these results, the heirs decide on the next steps.

Required documents

• Application to use cadastral computer data (Form No. 72-2 of the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Establishment and Management of Spatial Data)
• Applicant's identification
• Basic certificate or certified copy of the removed family register of the deceased (proof of death)
• Family relation certificate or certified copy of the removed family register showing the applicant is an heir
• Certificates confirming the death and relationship of a higher-ranking heir who has died, if applicable
• Letter of authorization (when submitted by an agent)

Fees

Industry range of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of won · we quote after consultation depending on the date of death, the scope of removed family register checks, the number of heirs and the number of parcels found. Government fees are separate.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Act on the Establishment and Management of Spatial Data, Article 76
• Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Establishment and Management of Spatial Data, Article 62
• Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Establishment and Management of Spatial Data, Article 75
• Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Establishment and Management of Spatial Data, Form No. 72-2
• Civil Act, Article 1000
• Civil Act, Article 1003

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-08

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• The search result alone does not settle ownership. Check the current owner of each parcel with the certified copy of the real estate register before deciding on the next step.
• If a higher-ranking heir is alive and you apply in the name of a lower-ranking relative, the heir review exemption does not apply. Check the order of inheritance before applying.

Frequently asked questions