An Application for Severance of Joint Ownership (Form LRA 37) is an official document used in Kenya to convert joint tenancy into tenancy in common, allowing co-owners to hold specified individual shares rather than equal undivided interests. This jurisdiction-specific form is prescribed under the Land Registration Act and the Land Registration (General) Regulations, 2017, specifically Rule 53(1). It enables joint proprietors to formalize their individual ownership portions while maintaining co-ownership of the property.
This form is intended for joint property owners, joint tenants, family members, business partners, spouses, co-investors, and their representatives who wish to sever joint tenancy and establish defined individual shares. Severance is commonly used when joint owners want to clarify ownership proportions, especially if contributions were unequal, prepare for future independent disposal of shares, protect against automatic right of survivorship, enable individual wills to cover specific shares, or convert informal arrangements into legally recognized individual interests.
The application requires the title number, date of application, and details of all joint proprietors including names and addresses. The critical section specifies the undivided shares each proprietor will hold after severance (e.g., one-half, one-third, or other proportions), clearly stating which share is allocated to each named proprietor. The application is subject to the Land Registration Act, Land Act, and existing interests on the register, with provision for additional conditions if needed.
All joint proprietors must execute the application together with colored photographs, identification numbers, PIN numbers, and signatures verified by a certifying officer who confirms voluntary and informed execution. Once registered and sealed by the Land Registrar, the joint tenancy is severed and converted to tenancy in common with defined individual shares, eliminating automatic survivorship rights and allowing each co-owner to independently transfer or bequeath their specific portion within Kenya's land registration system.