Form LRA 51 (Application to be Registered as Trustee) is a statutory land registration document used in Kenya to formally register an individual or corporate entity as a trustee over registered land. This form is jurisdiction-specific to Kenya and is prescribed under regulation 64(1) of the Land Registration (General) Regulations, 2017, made pursuant to the Land Registration Act, 2012. It is a critical instrument in situations where land is held in trust for beneficiaries rather than in absolute ownership by the registered proprietor.
This advocate-reviewed template, available for download on wansom.ai, is designed for trustees, trust administrators, personal representatives, legal practitioners, land registrars, property managers, community trustees, religious institutions, charitable organizations, family trusts, and beneficiaries whose land interests are held under a trust arrangement. It is commonly used in express trusts, customary trusts, charitable trusts, family land trusts, and other legal structures where the legal title holder must be officially recorded as a trustee in the land register.
The application requires key details including the title number of the land, the full legal name of the applicant (or corporate registration number where applicable), and the identity of the beneficiaries for whom the land is held in trust. The applicant must execute the form as a formal legal instrument before a certifying officer, with identity verification through a colored photograph, national ID or passport number, and PIN. The certifying officer confirms that the applicant appeared in person, understood the document, and executed it voluntarily, ensuring compliance with Kenyan land law verification standards.
Once lodged at the relevant land registry, the Land Registrar reviews the application, records the trustee status in the land register, and seals the registration. This protects beneficiaries’ interests, clarifies legal ownership structure, and enhances transparency in land administration. The Form LRA 51 template simplifies compliance, reduces drafting errors, and ensures lawful registration of trustees within Kenya’s land registration system.