Changing ownership after bereavement

marymck

Hello I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right category? My husband passed away and our house was in his name. Probate has been granted and now I'm looking to change the name of the owner from his to mine at Land Registry. 
I thought this would be relatively straightforward but I'm finding the Land Registry website very confusing, with what seems unnecessary jargon.
I've been quoted £674 by a firm of solicitors to do this for me. That's a sizeable chunk of money for me. 
How feasible is it for me to complete the paperwork myself? I understand there are no taxes to pay, just Land Registry fees. And I'd need a glossary of terms to decipher the jargon.
Is there post on this website that might talk me through the process?

elsien

is there any help at all? if you scroll down, there’s a section on transfer of ownership from a sole owner.

https://www.gov.uk/update-property-records-someone-dies?step-by-step-nav=4f1fe77d-f43b-4581-baf9-e2600e2a2b7a

marymck

Thanks Elsien. They were the webpages I'd been looking at before posting here and that I'm afraid I don't understand. It says I have to send the SDLT form, but my understanding was that I wouldn't have to pay Stamp Duty as my husband left the house to me.
I had also downloaded the forms AP1 and AS1 and I'm afraid that's where my confusion really took off with all the flowery legalistic language used.
E.g. What does "assenting the property" mean? 
I'm assuming I have to complete both forms?

WIAWSNB

Hi Mary. Sorry for your loss.
I know little about this process, but understand it is very DIYable, so all you need is a little time to get your head around it, hopefully with help from here and elsewhere.
It does not require a solicitor, but I totally get your concerns about the language!
No SDLT is payable, and there must be a simple way around this in the form, but it's new to me.
Hopefully proper help will arrive soon, and I might even dip in myself unless I, too, find it too confusing...
Meanwhile, please don't worry or rush with it. 

WIAWSNB

At first glance, the two forms you mentioned are, indeed, the ones required. And identification. And the AS1 needs a witness of your signing. That's it. 
They are very simple to fill, and no payment is due.
I can provide more details, but bear in mind that I'm approaching this as a novice, so best if someone experienced can advise first.

marymck

Thank you WIAWSNB for your reassurance. I confess I'm in a bit of a panic about all the paperwork and financial decisions I'm having to deal with so unexpectedly. I probably need to calm down and tackle one brick in the wall at a time, but you read reports of fraudsters stealing people's homes via fraudulent Land Registry applications so I wanted to get on to it early.

Probate was easier and quicker than I thought. I guess I expected that the Land Registry would be even easier and just wasn't anticipating such scary terminology in their paperwork. I can't even work out what the Land Registry fees are as the Government drop down box was confusing in itself and they want a cheque with the application!

Thank you for your kind and clear words.

WIAWSNB

marymck said:

Thank you WIAWSNB for your reassurance. I confess I'm in a bit of a panic about all the paperwork and financial decisions I'm having to deal with so unexpectedly. I probably need to calm down and tackle one brick in the wall at a time, but you read reports of fraudsters stealing people's homes via fraudulent Land Registry applications so I wanted to get on to it early.
Probate was easier and quicker than I thought. I guess I expected that the Land Registry would be even easier and just wasn't anticipating such scary terminology in their paperwork. I can't even work out what the Land Registry fees are as the Government drop down box was confusing in itself and they want a cheque with the application!
Thank you for your kind and clear words.

You are welcome.

Yes, please do try and take some time out and not concern yourself with this. 

I've had a look, and it appears to be very straight forward indeed. I fully expect others on this forum will have actually been through this, or perhaps 'Land Registry' himself can advise, so I would rather that someone who was fully informed would jump in.

But, I can certainly come back later with what I have discovered. 

All the best. 

WIAWSNB

Hi Mary.
I'd post it on this forum instead:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/deaths-funerals-probate
Hopefully more response.