[nashashmi]

Has not digital data always been a secondary source of information, instead of a primary source of information? Paper records cannot be thrown away. And new records are probably recorded digital only but a copy is sent to the parties in the transaction

[justsomehnguy]

Any country big enough was moving digital first/digital only for years. And with a paper records there is always a question if this one is the last one and contains a valid data or it's from years ago and since then everything was changed multiple times.

Just recently I've seen a 30 y.o. deed on some commercial property. Despite it was valid and predated the digital era, it had almost nothing common with the things on the ground.

[fy20]

At least in my EU country, no the digital record is the primary.

When you buy property you get a deed for the land, but the details of a property can change after that. The deed also doesn't contain ownership, it just says what is on the land. It's common for land to have multiple owners (1/32 is not unheard of) due to inheritance.

I'm building a house, the land deed just has the land plot as we bought it, until the house is 100% finished (and registered) we will not get an updated deed, although the digital system has newer data (you need to register the construction progress).

[Kinrany]

Paper records burn great and are harder to store in multiple locations

[floatrock]

They're also often stored in basements, which is the first to flood.

[vitally3643]

Faxes and photocopiers have existed for nearly a century

[pjc50]

A photocopy isn't a primary record!

[mistrial9]

OK but the primary record itself is not the primary record when challenged in court; subject to a change order; redefined by legislation or handled in many other ways. There is money involved.

[nly]

In the UK deeds no longer really exist and do not take precedence over the land registry.

Property that isn't registered can remain unregistered but must be registered before it is sold.