Notify death of a property owner
When a property owner dies, you must notify the Lands Titles office (LTO) so the land title can be updated.
Some titles issued before 1 December 2000 don't record the tenancy type or list all owners by name. This means it's assumed that 2 or more parties may have held the land as joint tenants.
How you notify will depend if you're a sole owner, tenant in common or joint property owner.
Fee
A $176 fee applies.
Before you apply
Before lodging with the LTO, read the guidelines relevant to you:
If the property is mortgaged
If the property is mortgaged and the land title certificate is with a bank or financial institution, ask them to give it to the legal practitioner, conveyancing agent or equivalent when you lodge your application.
The bank or financial institution may charge a fee to do this.
If the name on the death certificate is different to the land title
You must state in your application that both documents refer to the same person.
For example, you can state that 'Mary Ann Smith' described in the land title certificate is the same person as the 'Mary Anne Smith' described in the death certificate.
Sole owner or tenant in common
Follow these steps:
Step 1. The executor must apply for probate at the Supreme Court.
To apply, go to the NT Supreme Court website.
Step 2: Print the below application on a single sheet of A4 paper using double-sided printing.
Application to register a personal representative PDF (38.7 KB)
Application to register a personal representative DOC (54.5 KB)
Step 3. Fill in the application and sign it in front of a qualified witness.
Step 4. Submit your application and pay the fee to the LTO in person or by mail.
Joint property owners
All surviving joint property owners listed on the title must be included in the application.
You can submit the application yourself or use a legal practitioner or conveyancer.
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Print the below application on a single sheet of A4 paper using double-sided printing.
Application to note death by surviving proprietor PDF (38.3 KB)
Application to note death by surviving proprietor DOC (49.5 KB)
Step 2. Fill in the application and sign it in front of a qualified witness.
Step 3. Attach the original death certificate as proof of death. This will be sighted and returned to you.
Step 4. Attach any duplicate land title certificates, if they have been issued.
Step 5. Submit your application and pay the fee to the LTO in person or by mail.
Contact
For more information, contact the LTO.