Adding my name onto deeds - is it straightforward and do we need a deed of trust?

[Yambrel]

After many years of living together, and with our children into their teens, have finally decided to get all the legal stuff sorted.

The house is in dp's name although I have contributed over the years. We want to have my name put onto the deeds so it's equivalent to us being married but the solicitor we're using is making it seem very complicated. He's told dp we need to get an official paid-for valuation even though you can see from zoopla, recent neighbours' moves, etc. that our house is definitely worth less than £250,000.

He's also mentioned a deed of trust. Is this worth doing? Am happy to do this if dp wants as he has contributed to the house more than me and I really only want this done so if one of us dies everything is straightforward.

We're also sorting out wills to cover pretty much everything.

Is there anything else we need to do?

Oh, just remembered. The house is not registered with the land registry as it originally belonged to dp's mother and he inherited it in 2000.

The change of ownership will trigger the need for you to register the property for the first time. The registration process will need a current market value to be provided and I suspect this is why the solicitor has asked for a proper valuation.

Our online guidance explains how to register for the first time and may help to understand what is required.

A deed of trust is often completed in such circumstances although the precise details are not lodged/registered with us. The wills will go so far but a deed of trust is also often created as well and clarifying things in this way will help both you your partner and next of kin to understand what happens next if something were to happen to either or both of you.

The most simple of trust deeds can be contained in the transfer deed itself, and state what percentage interest you each have. I assume it's not to be owned equally.

Thanks both, that explains things well.