5 years sounds like a long time. Did the land registry say whether there was a dealing pending? If not, go back and ask. If there is, it means that your wife is on the waiting list in the land registry for her file to be dealt with. If not, then the papers probably havent been lodged with them yet, and she should go to the solicitor involved and ask them to check the file and let her know the situation. Legally, if all the documents were signed at the time, she is still the beneficial owner, but just needs to become the registered owner. This would not affect her entitlement to sell, transfer or re mortgage.