Re-registering an Apartment to the Wife — What the Law Allows in 2025.

Re-registering an apartment to the wife is an important step that may be needed for various reasons: from family planning to optimizing property issues. To ensure the process is quick, legal, and without unnecessary expenses, it is essential to know all the nuances, from preparing documents to financial aspects. The News.LIVE editorial team explains how to re-register an apartment to the wife in 2025, what documents are needed, where to go, and how much it costs.

Gift Agreement — The Main Tool for Re-registration

In 2025, the most common and safest way to re-register an apartment to the wife is through a gift agreement, commonly known as a 'gift deed' — a gratuitous transfer of property. When it comes to close relatives, particularly spouses, this method has several important advantages. The main one is the exemption from taxes. Ukrainian legislation stipulates that when transferring property within the first degree of kinship (which includes spouses), personal income tax and fees are not charged.

According to the (Article 717), a gift agreement is a contract under which the donor gratuitously transfers property (in this case, an apartment) to the donee in ownership. For real estate, such an agreement must be made in writing and must be notarized (Article 182 of the Civil Code of Ukraine).

After completing the procedure, the new owner of the apartment — the wife — receives the respective documents in her name.

Where to Go and Where to Start

The first step is a consultation with a notary. They will advise which documents need to be prepared and assess the situation: whether the apartment is under arrest, if there are other co-owners, or if there are restrictions on alienation. A notary can be either a state or a private specialist — it is only important that they have access to the state register of property rights. The registration of the agreement and subsequent amendments to the register are carried out through the notary.

What Documents Are Needed

Re-registration is impossible without a specific set of documents, experts from the 'Lawyers.ua' portal emphasize. But there is no need to panic: if the apartment is already in your ownership, gathering everything necessary is not complicated. Firstly, the following are needed: - passports and TINs of both parties — husband and wife; - documents confirming marriage (certificate); - the original document confirming ownership rights to the apartment; - technical passport for the dwelling. If the apartment was purchased during marriage, a notarized consent from the other spouse is needed, even if they are the ones transferring it. This is because, according to the law, such property belongs to both. Sometimes, an additional certificate from the BTI or an extract from the register of property rights is required. However, it is always better to clarify the exact list with the notary, as there may be individual nuances.

How the Re-registration Process Goes

After consulting with the notary and gathering all documents, the parties (husband and wife) personally go to the notary's office. There, the gift agreement is concluded, which is immediately notarized and entered into the register. After that, the data goes to the state register. On average, the change of ownership takes from one to three business days, depending on the workload of the notary and registrars. After registration is completed, the new owner will receive an extract from the property register, which will indicate her name. In some cases, the technical passport is also updated — this depends on the specific notary's requirements or regional practices.

How Much It Costs

Re-registering an apartment to the wife is one of the cheapest real estate operations. This is due to the fact that gifts between spouses are not taxed. The main expenses are notary fees. Their size depends on the region, type of real estate, and the notary. In 2025, the average cost of drafting a gift deed in Kyiv and other large cities ranges from 4,000 to 8,000 UAH. This amount may include: - drafting the agreement; - state duty (if necessary); - registration of ownership rights in the register; - copies, extracts, technical expenses. Sometimes, property appraisal is required — if the notary insists, or if the apartment is being registered in the wife's name after a divorce. In that case, the appraiser's services may add another 1,000 to 2,000 UAH to the total cost.

Important Nuances

Re-registering an apartment to the wife is a formally simple, but legally significant decision. It is essential to understand that the gift has an irrevocable nature. If you change your mind, it can only be canceled through the court, and only in very limited circumstances (for example, if the donee committed a serious violation against the donor). It is also essential to remember that if the apartment was already under mortgage or has other encumbrances, the gift may be impossible without lifting the restrictions. Therefore, it is advisable to consult an experienced notary and, if necessary, a lawyer right at the beginning. When re-registering an apartment to your wife, it is crucial to follow the appropriate procedures and have the necessary documents. The gift agreement is a popular way to carry out such a transaction in 2025, as it allows avoiding tax payments. It is also necessary to keep in mind possible expenses for notary services and other documents that may be required during this process.