Journal of Comparative Law

Journal of Comparative Law

Comparative Analysis of the Mechanism of Good Faith in Property Registration Law: A Perspective of the Legal Systems of the United States and Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Seyede Fateme Hashemi 1
Hosein Haghi 2
1 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran.
2 PhD student in Private Law, Faculty of Law, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran.
10.22096/law.2026.2052667.2271
Abstract
The conflict between ordinary (unregistered) and official deeds in immovable property transactions represents a long-standing challenge within the Iranian legal system, stemming from historical developments and structural complexities in its registration laws. This paper, revised to address specific scholarly critiques, provides a comprehensive analysis of this issue. It distinguishes between the “property registration” system (sabt-e amlak) and the “document registration” system (sabt-e asnad) and examines the evolution of Iranian registration law through three historical “renaissances,” culminating in the 2024 “Mandatory Registration of Immovable Property Transactions Act.” The study delves into the role of key legal provisions, including Articles 46, 47, 48, and 117 of the Registration Act, and analyzes the pivotal Supreme Court Unanimity Verdict No. 43, which has shaped judicial precedent for decades. Furthermore, it explores the often-overlooked intersection of good faith with the legal status of “persons barred from transactions” (ashkhas-e mamnu' al-mu'amila). Through a comparative lens with the U.S. bona fide purchaser doctrine, the paper assesses Iran's legislative solutions. The findings indicate that the 2024 Act marks a definitive shift towards formalism, establishing a constitutive effect for official registration. While it offers explicit protection for third parties in good faith during a transitional period, its primary long-term impact is to resolve the conflict by invalidating unregistered claims, thereby fundamentally altering and diminishing the future role of good faith in property disputes and prioritizing legal certainty above all.
Keywords
conflict of deeds
good faith
Iranian property registration law
U.S. property registration law
Mandatory Registration Act
Unanimity Verdict No
persons barred from transactions
Subjects
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Journal of Comparative Law

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 April 2026