Long story short, DH and I are staying married (separated but not legally) and I’m buying a house to live in instead of sinking money into rent. DH will give me my part of equity in the marital home, I’ll come off the deeds and mortgage and I’ll pay stamp duty on the new house. Question is: if we were legally separated we wouldn’t be liable for stamp duty on the equity transfer in marital home. But we’re not, and choosing not to be. Is there an option not to pay it in our circumstances?