Request to record death (Form 4)

When land, or an interest such as a lease, mortgage or water allocation, is held by joint tenants, the death of one joint tenant vests their interest in the surviving joint tenant or tenants by the right of survivorship, whatever the will says. The survivor then applies to the Registrar to have the death recorded, relying on the right to have an interest registered under section 30 of the Land Title Act 1994 (Qld) and the Registrar's power to record particulars under section 29 (Land Title Practice Manual (LTPM) [4-2010]). Form 4 is the approved form for that request; version 6 commenced on 28 April 2026. It is not used for a tenant in common or a sole owner: their interest passes through the estate by a transmission application (Form 5, 5A or 6).

When you need it

• A co-owner who held a Queensland lot as a joint tenant has died and the surviving joint tenant wants the title to show them as owner.
• The deceased was a joint holder of a registered lease, mortgage, State lease or water allocation. For a secondary interest such as a lease or mortgage, the dealing number of that interest goes in Item 3.
• More than one joint tenant has died. One Form 4 can record several deaths, which are recorded in the order the deaths occurred (LTPM [4-2060]).
• Do not use it where the title shows the deceased as a tenant in common or sole owner. Check a current title search first.

1. 1

   Lodger panel

   Insert the lodger's name, postal address, email and phone number. A lodger code is only needed if Titles Queensland has issued one. Leave the Dealing Number box blank: it is for office use and the number is allocated on lodgement.

2. 2

   Items 1 to 3: the deceased, the land and the interest

   Item 1 is the deceased's name exactly as recorded on the title, adding any capacity, for example 'as trustee under Instrument [number]'. Item 2 is the lot on plan description with its plan prefix (for example 'Lot 27 on RP 204939') and the title reference. Item 3 is the interest held, such as 'fee simple', 'Lease No. [number]' or 'Water Allocation' (LTPM [4-4010] to [4-4030]).

3. 3

   Item 4: applicant

   Insert the full name of the surviving joint tenant and a postal address for service of notices such as rates. If the last survivor has also died and their personal representative is applying, use the 'since deceased' wording set out in LTPM [4-4040].

4. 4

   Items 5 and 6: evidence and authority

   List what is being deposited: usually the official death certificate issued by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or a grant of representation in the estate. If the evidence was deposited with an earlier dealing, give that dealing number instead. In Item 6 state the applicant's authority (usually surviving joint tenant) and delete the statements that do not apply.

5. 5

   Item 7: request and signing

   The applicant signs and dates the request in front of a witness listed in Schedule 1 of the Land Title Act 1994, such as a justice of the peace, commissioner for declarations, lawyer or notary public. The witness must first verify the signer's identity and must not be a party (s 162). Alternatively the applicant's solicitor may sign on their behalf, printing their full name, and no witness is needed.

• Self-represented applicants can lodge a Form 4 online through the Titles Electronic Drop Box (TED), which accepts PDF or TIFF files up to 15MB and credit card payment, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. Keep all original documents after uploading.
• Paper lodgement is by post to Titles Queensland, GPO Box 1401, Brisbane Qld 4001, with payment. For paper lodgement the death certificate must be the original official document or an original wet-signed certified copy, and it is not returned (LTPM [60-1030-4]).
• Industry professionals can lodge a Form 4 electronically through an electronic lodgment network where the inclusions apply (for example a fee simple lot held as joint tenants, lodged as a standalone document). Form 4 is not one of the required instruments under the eConveyancing mandate, so eLodgement or paper is also available.
• A lodgement fee applies. Check the current amount with the Titles Queensland fee calculator. The standard service timeframe for a correctly lodged titling instrument is five business days.

• Use the official version of the death certificate that shows the cause of death. Titles Queensland will not accept a limited version, and a certificate not in English needs a full translation (LTPM [4-2030]).
• If the deceased's name on the certificate differs significantly from the name on the title (for example a different surname), a statutory declaration that they are the same person may be required. Minor spelling differences are usually overlooked (LTPM [4-2020]).
• Where the deceased held the land as a trustee, extra requirements apply; see LTPM Part 51 (Trusts) before lodging.