LESS IS MORE
This is the “Golden Rule” when performing a search, providing the best chance at getting a successful search result. Always enter the least amount of data and allow Lexis WinDeed to return a list of possible matches and choose the correct search subject. This is because our data suppliers may have captured a company or individual name differently to how you refer to them.
DEEDS OFFICE COMPANY SEARCHING
Company names are not captured in the same way that they are captured at CIPC, and they will be abbreviated when necessary. Examples include:
| Full name (CIPC) | Deed Office |
| Property/Properties | Prop |
| Investments | Inv |
| Limited | Ltd |
| Propriety | Pty |
We recommend omitting these words from the search criteria and allow Lexis WinDeed to return a list of possible matches.Searching by Registration number
The Deeds Office usually captures company registration numbers without slashes. If you get “No results”, try searching with slashes.
DEEDS OFFICE PERSON SEARCHING
Compound surnames
The Deeds Office captures compounds name in a unique way using the last past of the compound name as the Surname. For example, the name Johan van der Merwe would be captured at the Deeds Office as Merwe, Johan van der. For searching, input “Merwe” in the Surname field and “Johan” in the Forename field and Lexis WinDeed will return possible matches.
Double Barrel surnames
The Deeds Office captures double barrel surnames in a unique way using the last part of the double barrel name as the Surname. For example, Jada Pinkett-Smith would be captured at the Deeds Office as Smith, Jada Pinkett. For searching, input “Smith” in the Surname field and Jada in the Forename field and Lexis WinDeed will return possible matches.
Searching by South Africa ID number (SAID)
WinDeed allows searching by SAID; however, it is important to know that some ID numbers have changed and a successful search result depends on knowing the ID number used at the time of the property registration. Searching on a partial ID number is possible but may result in exact matches only. Passport numbers are not recognised at the Deeds Office.
COMPANY AND DIRECTOR SEARCHES
For Company searches, use the minimal input for the name and allow Lexis WinDeed to give you possible matches.
There are often data capture errors for Directors at CIPC (name and ID numbers), resulting in more than one version of a Director in the CIPC database. It is especially important to use the Less is More search principle.
Lexis WinDeed’s unique solution! Special Lexis WinDeed functionality for Director searches provides other possible versions of a Director with the opportunity to choose one or more to get the full CIPC view of the search subject.