Real Estate
Title Transfer Lawyer in BC
Adding a spouse, removing a name, or gifting property to family. We handle the transfer at the Land Title Office so the change is done right and holds up.
Changing who is on the title of a property sounds simple, but in British Columbia it is a legal transfer, and it has to be completed by a lawyer or notary. Whether you are adding your spouse, taking a name off, or gifting a home to your children, the paperwork goes through the Land Title Office and the details matter.
Our real estate team searches the current title, prepares the transfer, and files it correctly so the new ownership is registered the way you intend. We check for anything registered against the property, such as a mortgage, a lien, or an easement, because a family transfer does not make those disappear. If there is a mortgage on the property, your lender usually has to agree before a name can be added or removed.
We also walk you through the tax side, since Property Transfer Tax can still apply even when no money changes hands. Some family transfers qualify for an exemption and some do not, and it is better to know before you file. Tell us what you are trying to do, and we will give you a clear, honest read on how to get there.
How we can help
Adding a spouse or partner to title
We add your spouse or common law partner to the title and register the change correctly, and we confirm whether your lender's consent is needed first.
Removing a name from title
After a separation, a buyout, or a change in plans, we prepare the transfer to take a name off title and make sure any mortgage is addressed before we file.
Gift transfers to family
Gifting a home or a share of one to your children or parents, prepared properly so the transfer is registered and the tax position is clear.
Transfers between family members
Moving property within the family, whether to a child, a sibling, or a parent, handled so the change holds up at the Land Title Office.
Property Transfer Tax review
We check whether your transfer triggers Property Transfer Tax and whether a related individual exemption applies, so the number is not a surprise.
Independent Legal Advice
If a lender or another party asks for it, we can provide the short, separate meeting where an independent lawyer confirms you understand what you are signing and are signing freely, then provides a signed certificate.
Common questions
Can I just add my spouse to the title myself?
No. In British Columbia a change of ownership is a property transfer, and it has to be completed by a lawyer or notary and registered at the Land Title Office. We search the current title, prepare the transfer, and file it so the change is recorded correctly. If there is a mortgage on the property, your lender usually has to agree before a name can be added, and we handle that step for you.
Do we have to pay Property Transfer Tax on a family transfer?
Sometimes, even when no money changes hands. Property Transfer Tax is charged on the fair market value of what is transferred: 1% on the first $200,000, 2% on the portion up to $2,000,000, 3% above that, and a further 2% on residential value over $3,000,000. Certain transfers between related individuals, such as a spouse or a child, may qualify for an exemption. We check where your transfer stands before you file so you are not caught out.
There is a mortgage on the property. Can we still transfer it?
Usually yes, but the lender is involved. A family transfer does not remove an existing mortgage, and most lenders require their consent before a name is added or taken off title. In some cases the lender may want the person being added to sign onto the loan. We contact your lender, confirm what they need, and make sure the mortgage is handled before the transfer is registered.
What is Independent Legal Advice and might we need it?
Independent Legal Advice, or ILA, is a short, separate meeting where a lawyer who is not acting for the other party confirms that you understand a document, such as a mortgage, a guarantee, or a separation agreement, and that you are signing it freely. The lawyer then provides a signed certificate. On some family transfers a lender or the other party asks for ILA, and we can arrange or provide it.
Book your free title transfer case evaluation
No pressure and no obligation. Just a clear conversation about where you stand and what comes next.