Record of Death: How to remove a deceased person from a QLD property title

Losing someone is hard enough without paperwork piling on top. So if you’ve just realised your home, investment property or holiday place still has a loved one’s name on the title, take a breath – this is a normal, very fixable thing, and you’re not the first person to deal with it.

Here’s the plain-English version of how it works in Queensland, what we’ll need from you, and why it’s worth tidying up sooner rather than later.

The short version: If you owned a Queensland property with someone who has passed away, their name doesn’t come off the title automatically. If you owned it as joint tenants, removing them is usually quick and done electronically – it’s called a Request to Record Death, and all we need is the death certificate, a quick ID check and a bit of paperwork. If you owned it as tenants in common (or they were the only owner), it’s a bigger job that can involve the will and probate. Either way, you don’t have to be selling to sort it out – and it’s cleaner to do it now.

What is a “record of death” on a property title?

When someone passes away, their name stays on the property title until someone actively removes it. The title doesn’t update itself. A “record of death” is simply the official step that updates the Queensland Titles Registry to reflect that one of the owners has died – so the title shows who legally owns the property now.

It’s a bit like updating the rego after you sell a car. Nothing changes on paper until someone catches the paperwork up.

First, work out how the property is owned

Before anything else, we need to know how the property was owned. There are two ways two or more people can own property together in Queensland, and they’re treated very differently when someone dies.

Joint tenants means everyone owns the whole property together. If one owner dies, their share automatically passes to the surviving owner – this is called the “right of survivorship.” Couples usually own this way.

Tenants in common means each person owns a set share (say 50/50, or 70/30). When one owner dies, their share doesn’t pass to the other owner automatically – it goes to whoever they’ve left it to in their will. Siblings, friends and business partners often own this way. If you want the full breakdown, we’ve written a separate guide on joint tenants vs tenants in common.

The good news? The way you own it is noted right on the title search, next to the owners’ names. If you’re not sure, we’ll check it for you in minutes.

The simple path: removing a deceased joint tenant

If the property was held as joint tenants, you’re in the easy lane. We lodge a Request to Record Death electronically with the Titles Registry, and once it’s registered, the surviving owner becomes the sole owner of the property. No court application, no waiting on probate.

To get it done, we’ll need three things from you:

• The original death certificate (or an original certified copy) – the official one from Births, Deaths and Marriages, not the funeral home notice
• A quick verification of your identity, which we can do in our office or online
• A bit of standard paperwork, which can also be done online or in person

That’s genuinely it. Once we have those, we handle the lodgement and keep you updated.

When it’s not joint tenants

If the property was held as tenants in common, or the person who passed was the only owner, it’s a more involved process. Their share has to go to their estate first, which usually means we need to see the will and may need to wait on a Grant of Probate before the title can be dealt with. This is the transmission application path, and it ties into the broader job of administering the estate.

This is squarely in our wheelhouse too – our wills and estates team handles probate, letters of administration and estate work across Queensland, so it can all be looked after under one roof.

Do I have to do this even if I’m not selling?

Short answer: yes, eventually – and it’s smarter to do it now. A lot of people only discover the title is out of date when they go to sell and the whole thing grinds to a halt. Sorting the record of death while there’s no deadline hanging over you means no settlement stress later. If selling is on the cards, here’s our guide to selling a QLD property with a deceased on title.

What it costs and how long it takes

For a straightforward joint tenants matter, this is an affordable, fixed-fee job, plus the usual title search and registration outlays. We’ll give you a clear quote up front – no surprises. Timing-wise, once we have the death certificate and your ID sorted, a joint tenants record of death is usually a quick turnaround. Tenants in common or estate matters take longer because of the probate step.

Want it sorted? Give the team a call on 07 3088 7675 (Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm) or get in touch here. We’ll let you know exactly what’s involved for your situation.

Frequently asked questions about record of death in QLD

What is a record of death on a property title in Queensland?

It’s the official step that updates the Queensland Titles Registry to remove a deceased owner from a property title. If the property was held as joint tenants, it’s done with a Request to Record Death, and the surviving owner becomes the sole owner once it’s registered.

How do I remove a deceased person’s name from a property title in QLD?

If you owned the property as joint tenants, we lodge a Request to Record Death electronically with the Titles Registry. We’ll need the original death certificate, a verification of your identity, and some standard paperwork. Once it’s registered, the title is in the surviving owner’s name alone.

Does a deceased owner’s name come off the title automatically?

No. Even with the right of survivorship for joint tenants, the title doesn’t update on its own – someone has to lodge the paperwork to record the death and remove the name.

What if the property was owned as tenants in common?

Then the deceased’s share passes to their estate, not the other owner. This usually requires the will and a Grant of Probate, and is handled through a transmission application. Our wills and estates team can manage the whole process.

Do I need to remove the deceased from the title if I’m not selling?

You don’t have to do it the day someone passes, but it will need to be done eventually. It’s much cleaner to sort it now rather than discovering an out-of-date title mid-sale, which can delay settlement.

What documents do I need to record a death on a QLD title?

The original death certificate (or an original certified copy from Births, Deaths and Marriages), a verification of your identity, and some standard paperwork our office provides.