Experience the Difference

Ownership
Changes

You don't have to buy or sell property to need a settlement agent. There are plenty of situations when you need to change details on the paperwork without needing to put the property on the market.

From initial documentation to Landgate lodgements, we handle the legal requirements to ensure your Certificate of Title accurately reflects your current situation. We take care of all the background coordination, liaising with multiple interested parties such as banks, brokers, and state revenue departments, so you don't have to.

Experience the Difference

Deceased estates:

Executors and administrators play a large part in managing property transfers as part of an estate after the death of a loved one. We coordinate with all departments, supporting you through the necessary stages required to transfer the property to the intended beneficiaries.

Related party transfers:

Transferring property between family members involves specific legal processes, even when no money is changing hands. As the sale price may not accurately reflect the market value of the property, we guide you through obtaining a duty assessment and having the title updated to reflect the new ownership.

Ownership Change services include:

Applications by survivorship:

When a property has multiple owners and one passes away, the title needs to be updated to reflect the new ownership. We prepare the formal application and statutory declaration with verified certificates and documents, resulting in an accurate updated title.

Change of name or address on a title:

A Certificate of Title needs to match your legal identity. Whether you've changed your name in the past by deed poll, recently married or divorced, or found a historical inaccuracy, we coordinate the name amendment application and coordinate with your mortgage provider so their records match your amendment.

Adding or removing an owner:

Adding a partner, buying out an ex-spouse, or updating share percentages between investment partners, are all classed as a formal change of ownership. Our extensive experience means we efficiently handle the differing requirements of any situation, assessing transfer duty obligations, assisting with any necessary refinancing, and lodging the new ownership structure.

What to know when making

Ownership Changes

Settlement agents aren't just used when buying or selling property. Changes in personal circumstances, such as marriage or divorce, or a death in the family, means the information on your property title may no longer be accurate.

While you don't have to use one, as experienced settlement agents, we know the process well and can help you avoid the hassle of working everything out for yourself, so you know the amendment will go through without any issues.

Transferring property ownership to a family member in WA is a formal legal process, even if money isn't involved. Transfer Duty is assessed on the market value of the property rather than the consideration paid. Landgate requires identity verification to prevent property fraud. Any active mortgage may need to be formally discharged and a new mortgage may need to be arranged for the new owner.

As experienced settlement agents we will liaise with the various government departments, manage the different processes for a smooth transfer without any surprises.

Dealing with deceased estates can be a very emotional time. We step in to handle the administrative paperwork on your behalf, giving you the support you need so you don't feel overwhelmed.

We follow the distinct legal stages, including:

The Grant of Probate: A lawyer will assist with any official court documents required to validate the instructions left in the Will or a Letter of Administration.
The Transmission Application: Temporarily placing the property under the control of the deceased estate's representative.
Transfer to the Beneficiary: Executing final lodgements to formally transfer the house to you.

We look ahead to identify every moving part that needs to be taken care of, like mortgage discharges, transfer duty endorsement, so your process stays straightforward.

The State views removing a name from a house title as a transfer of ownership, so you need to follow the correct legal process to update the land registry.

Because the transfer is due to the breakdown of a relationship, you may be entitled to nominal transfer duty if you have family court orders for the transfer of the property.

If there's an active mortgage, the bank must formally release your ex-partner from the mortgage, and they'll assess your ability to support the mortgage on your own.

Once those steps are finalised, the title can be updated and formally lodged with Landgate.

As experienced settlement agents we know exactly what documents you need, where to get them and when they must be submitted. We manage all these moving parts for you, minimising unnecessary back-and-forth, so you can resolve the property transfer quickly and cleanly.

If you're keeping your house as part of a divorce settlement, you may need to remove your ex partner's name from the house title. As it's a formal change in ownership, using a settlement agent like West End Settlements allows the electronic transfer as we are a member of PEXA. We also assist with liaising with your bank around active mortgages, identification verification, and any stamp duty exemption. We're here to protect your interests and help you achieve independent ownership.

Congratulations on your marriage! Now that the celebrations are over, it's time to deal with the paperwork that comes with being married. The marriage registry doesn't automatically update your Certificate of Title, so you need to formally notify Landgate. This requires copies of your title, marriage certificate and change of name forms from Landgate. As experienced settlement agents we can lodge this for you to ensure everything is correct and the process is smooth.

Dealing with deceased estates can be a very emotional time. In Western Australia, what you need to do depends on how your names are listed on the Certificate of Title.

Joint Tenants: This is most common for couples. The property isn't part of your partner's estate. Instead, ownership automatically passes to you as the surviving owner. You'll need to update the legal title to reflect this.
You'll need to lodge a Survivorship Application.
Tenants in Common: This means you each own a defined share of the property (e.g. 50% each). Your partner's share becomes part of their estate and will be distributed according to their Will or Letter of Administration.
Dealing with a Deceased Estate is a bit more complex and we can help you manage the process.

For either step West End Settlements can step in to handle the administrative paperwork on your behalf, giving you the support you need so you don't feel overwhelmed.

In Western Australia, property settlements are handled using PEXA. The digital platform uses world class security measures including strict identity verification and closed-loop transfers to eliminate vulnerabilities and scams. They also offer a guarantee that protects against fraud and interception.

Last reviewed June 2026

Property Titles are highly regulated records, so it's not as simple as a quick name change on a piece of paper. We've answered the most common questions about making these updates to keep your title accurate.