Changing your name at the Land Registry

Checking and Correcting Your Name at the Land Registry

---

Article Summary

Many people change their names, and if they own a property, it is important that they inform the Land Registry of their name change. This is important, not just to keep the Land Registry records up to date, but because many institutions and professionals regularly check entries in the Land Registry to compare them with requests for finance and other such matters.

---

One of the frequent difficulties that customers relate to us is that their mortgagee is unable to process an application for a new mortgage because the name on the application form differs from that on the Land Registry Title Register. Sometimes, this is just a missing middle name, or a mis-spelling of one of their names. In other instances, it is because a female customer's name has changed following a marriage or because she has been divorced and reverted back to her maiden name. Another example is when a customer come's to sell his property. The Title Register will need to show his correct name as his solicitor will need to prove that he owns the property.

A customer's request for help in sorting this problem out is usually urgent because it is holding up mortgage finance or a sale, and it can take several weeks to up date the records. Readers of this article may consider it prudent to check their names in the Title Register, if they have not already done so, and if necessary, follow the procedure below to up date the Land Registry records.

Obtain Title Register

Your registered name is displayed in the B section of the Title Register, as in the following sample extract:

B: Proprietorship Register

This register specifies the class of title and identifies the owner. It contains any entries that affect the right of disposal.

Title good leasehold

1   (16.11.1991)   PROPRIETOR: Sebastion Senor of 27 Albany Street, Portsmouth P01 1DS.

---

How to Update Your Name at the Land Registry

You should notify the Land Registry at the Land Registry office dealing with your property, using Land Registry Form ID1. You will also need to send the Land Registry form AP1 (an application to change the Title Register), and the document proving your change of name. In order to complete the documents you need to send to the Land Registry you will need to know:

• The property's Title Number
• The Land Registry office dealing with your property and its address
• Your exact registered name, even if it is mis-spelt

The Title Register will provide most of this information for you. The Title Number is found at the top of the Title Register, together with the Land Registry office dealing with your name. Your registered name is found in the B section of the Title Register.

Obtain Title Register

The Land Registry office address can be obtained from this government webpage.

The documents you should send to the Land Registry are:

1. Form ID1

(This document is evidence that you are who you say you are. It is a free download from the Government website, using the link.)

2. Original or certified copy of the document evidencing your name as it should be.

This document may be one or more of the following:

• Marriage Certificate
• Deed Poll, Statutory Declaration or Statement of Truth
• Birth Certificate

A marriage certificate would be used where your name has changed following a marriage.

A Deed Poll, Statutory Declaration or Statement of Truth would be used where:

• you have reverted back to your maiden name following a divorce, or
• have changed your name intentionally, e.g. by Deed Poll or by Statutory Declaration

A Birth Certificate would be used where your name has been mis-spelt at the Land Registry. It should be accompanied by a Statutory Declaration or Statement of Truth to confirm that you are the same person as in the Birth Certificate.

Statutory Declarations and Statements of Truth are usually prepared by your solicitor for a modest fee.

1. Form AP1

This is the standard Land Registry form for an application to change the Title Register. It should be downloaded from the Government website, using the link. This is a free download. When completing form AP1 you should state on the form, in answer to question 4, that the application is a "change of name". There is no fee payable, and so the fee box should state "nil".

---

Changing Your Name by Deed Poll

If you have not yet changed your name, but are intending to, you can do this officially from a website such as www.ukdeedpollagency.com. They charge a nominal fee of £4.99 after which you can then print your Change of Name Deed as often as you like.