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• Reputation: 831 Q&A: 25 0 0 376 45 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 1 Jack

  0 0 No, forging is not okay. You also probably shouldn't be driving the car around untill you can get at least a temporary registration (and insurance) in your name. If you can get even the slightest amount of cooperation from the mother, you need to get her to sign this form: http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420041.pdf and then have her sign over the title to you when it comes. That will be BY FAR the best way to handle this. If not, the other way to do it is either a bonded title or a three-year registration without title. With these options, the DOL issues you a temporary registration for three years after which if no on has challenged your ownership, the car is yours and they give you a new clear title. If it's a bonded title, you have to take out a bond (like from a bail bondsman) in 1.5 times the value of the car. I believe whether you have to get a bond or not depends on the value of the car. However, even doing it without a bond is a huge pain in the butt and, frankly, for a $400 car is probably not worth it. Here's the hoops you have to jump through: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=308-56A-210 Jack answered in Legal about 1 year ago | Report 4 comments by kuchagirl, Jack, and kuchagirl… 0 0 Thanks for the answer. I'm not driving it at all (OK, took it for a test drive but that went OK without a collision). It's still parked in front of his home. Also, I forgot to mention in the initial post that he has a "Best Friend" who is taking charge of going through the stuff in his room in preparation for a garage sale. But they were never lovers (is that what makes a common-law-spouse?). The dead-guy's pastor recognizes her as the next of kin, but I don't know if that is relevant. I'm starting to psychologically back out of this deal. Maybe the car will just have to be towed away? That's too bad. He would have appreciated it if someone used it, but then again he didn't leave a will. kuchagirl commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 Another possibility is that if the mother really wants nothing to do with it, the court might be willing to appoint the best friend as the executor of the estate instead of the mother (which would be the default), at which point that friend would be able to sign the car over to you. You might want to talk to the medical examiner about that. It gets into some complicated legal issues that really do require a lawyer to sort through, but for such a small estate it's likely to not be worth the trouble. It might be worth contacting the DOL and seeing what they have to say about the situation-- if you can get a registration without a bond, it might be worth it, but I wouldn't put any serious money into it with the title uncertainty. Jack commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 Update: Friend of a friend has experience at this type of thing. There is a method of using "Uncertain Owner" and jumping through some hoops, but it can be done. A state trooper will have to come out and personally inspect the car. (?) I don't have the details. I need to at least wait for the title & death certificate to arrive. Then, I won't be able to have a title for 3 years. I don't foresee holding onto the car for 3 years, and so wouldn't I need a title at some point, but I will ask that question later. Thanks for the advice, it helped calm me down. kuchagirl commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 Followup: the process worked. Mailed a certified letter to deceased friend, it was returned marked "deceased." (Interestingly, the letter was never opened, so it didn't matter what the piece of paper actually said.) Called State Patrol, got an appt for an inspection (had to wait 3 weeks for the inspection), inspection was mostly to determine whether the car was stolen. Passed the inspection with flying colors. (Inspection cost $65, even though I was told to bring a $50 check with me). Took all documents to Licensing Agency, and voila, the car's registration is in my name. Title is held by the state for 3 years. I'm told there is a way to sell the car even though the title is held by the state; I will look into that when the time comes. Thanks for your help! kuchagirl commented 10 months ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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• Reputation: -47 Q&A: 1 0 3 142 319 10 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 0

  1 1 If there's no will, I think his mom would inherit the car and you would have to buy it from her. You could make a deal saying you paid Emily and then she should be able to sign it off to you. What you don't want is for the state to seize it if they learn he's deceased and don't have any record of next of kin. I would do the research online and call the Department of Licensing (or send an email) as this issue must happen all the time. John Bailo answered in Legal about 1 year ago | Report 3 comments by Jack, capicola, and John Bailo… 0 0 There is very little risk of the state seizing the car, unless it's illegally parked. If there's somewhere it can be safely parked (ideally in someone's driveway, but it can probably be safely left on the street until the registration runs out), there's no reason why the questioner can't just leave it parked and take her time trying to sort out the legalities. Jack commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 No, I thnk he's talking probate. capicola commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 In that case, it's likely they would award the car to Emily if she makes a claim and then you effectively bought it from her. The only danger is that if he had first in line creditors whose claims would push her out of the way and then they would own the car and anything else as payment for debts. Either way, your $400 is a risk that guarantees you the car if Emily gets it. John Bailo commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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