The ownership of a property may change when the owner dies or a company undergoes changes. A pro forma registration of title means that the existing ownership registration is updated. The intermediary (maker of the application) must be a party to the estate or object of registration of title to be settled.
When the owner dies
When the owner of a property dies, the names of the parties to the death estate should be entered in title registration information. This can be done by applying for a pro forma registration of title. When the information is up to date, it will be easier to take care of the estate’s matters.
If the death estate wants to sell the property, the parties’ ownership can be checked directly from the certificate of title, and the estate inventory does not need to be given to the buyer for the registration of the title.
You can apply for pro forma registration of title for all properties and unseparated parcels included in the conveyance at the same time. You can apply for pro forma registration of title on behalf of other recipients, too.
This is how you can apply for a pro forma registration of title when the owner dies:
- Apply for a pro forma registration of title in the online NLS service. The service is available in Finnish and in Swedish. Title registration is paid in the NLS e-service when you submit the application.
- An intermediary can apply for pro forma registration of title on your behalf. For that, use the application form (PDF, suomi.fi in Finnish or in Swedish).
- If you cannot use our online services, you can also apply for a title registration using a form (PDF, suomi.fi in Finnish or in Swedish).
Required attachments
The deceased person's estate inventory, a report on family relationships, and a last will and testament, if such a document exists, need to be attached with a pro forma registration of title for a death estate.
In conjunction with partitioning or the division of assets
A pro forma registration of title can also be applied for after a divorce or the termination of a common-law relationship, even if the property owner does not change. Ownership information will be updated and, when selling the property, no agreement on partitioning or the division of assets needs to be given to the buyer for attaching it with the application. However, the information included in the agreement on partitioning or the division of assets is sensitive and confidential.
This is how you can apply for a pro forma registration of title based on partitioning or the division of assets:
- Apply for a pro forma registration of title in the online NLS service. The service is available in Finnish and in Swedish. Title registration is paid in the NLS e-service when you submit the application.
- An intermediary can apply for pro forma registration of title on your behalf. For that, use the application form (PDF, suomi.fi in Finnish or in Swedish).
- If you cannot use our online services, you can also apply for a title registration using a form (PDF, suomi.fi in Finnish or in Swedish).
Transfer tax
If an adjusting payment is made in conjunction with a divorce or the termination of a common-law relationship using funds other than the funds to be divided, a transfer tax return must be submitted regarding the funds, and transfer tax must be paid in the Finnish Tax Administration’s MyTax service (see more detailed transfer tax payment instructions). Tax obligations must be fulfilled immediately in conjunction with partitioning or the division of assets. However, receipts do not need to be attached with the application, as the NLS obtains information about paid taxes directly from the Tax Administration.
Required attachments
You need to attach the copy of the agreement on partitioning or the division of assets with the application for a pro forma registration of title.
When a company undergoes changes
A company which owns a property may undergo various changes, such as a merger or demerger. As a result, title information should also be updated.
This is how you can apply for a pro forma registration of title when a company undergoes changes:
- An intermediary can submit the application on your company’s behalf.
- A company can apply for a pro forma registration of title using a form (PDF, suomi.fi in Finnish or in Swedish).
If a company owns several properties, all pro forma registrations of title can be taken care of at the same time. In this case, contact our customer service.
Required attachments
As attachments with an application for a pro forma registration of title due to changes in a company, we need information about the changes and transferred properties.
Processing time
See the average processing times of applications and surveying services on the Application processing times page.