New and revised PRA practice directions on family law matters

Conveyancing 30/04/2009

Conveyancing practitioners should look out for new and revised PRA practice directions on family law matters.

A. Cancellation of property adjustment orders
The PRA has recently issued two interim office notices to staff of the registries to facilitate the processing of pending applications for cancellation of property adjustment orders on folios and in the Registry of Deeds. This has followed on consultation with the Conveyancing Committee on the content and format of the application forms. Draft rules are in the course of preparation and, when approved, will be published in due course. In the meantime, solicitors wishing to have property adjustment orders removed from title can access the necessary forms on the PRA website, :

  • Click on ‘Legal Notice 1/2009’ with attached forms 13, 14, and 15 for the application forms for the Registry of Deeds,
  • Click on ‘Legal Notice 2/2009’ with attached forms A, B, and C for the application forms for the Land Registry.

These notices are currently on the ‘News’ page of the PRA website and it is anticipated that they will, in the future, be available on the ‘Legislation’ page.

B. Changes to PRA practice regarding family law declarations
Practitioners should note that the PRA has recently changed its practice direction so that PRA staff will no longer check the content of family law declarations lodged with dealings in the Land Registry. Solicitors are cautioned to carefully check the content of all family law declarations, as any errors will not now be brought to their attention as heretofore. The new practice direction will replace the current practice direction no 10 and will be available under ‘Practice directions’, ‘Family Home Protection Act and Family Law Acts’ on the PRA website, .
The committee confirms that it is proper practice to lodge family law declarations with Land Registry dealings and stresses the importance of continuing to lodge them in the usual way. The PRA has confirmed that staff, while no longer checking them, will continue to accept them.