[WSBAPT] Old vehicle no title, no DOL records

[Bruce Moen]

I had that situation, but the car had value.  We sold it to a private party and transferred ownership with a Bill of Sale that recited a covenant of ownership and a recital that the evidence of ownership per DOL was not available.  I'd send you my work but I can't recall the name of the estate.  Basically, I treated the car like any other personal property and drafted around the lack of DOL title. Not perfect.  Query: is the estate still liable if an accident? I don't know, but my client and the Buyer accepted it as practical.

If you are junking the vehicle, then it's up to the junk yard.

  Bruce Moen

From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> On Behalf Of Eric Nelsen
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2022 3:59 PM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: [WSBAPT] Old vehicle no title, no DOL records

I have an estate in possession of a 40+ year old vehicle in non-running condition, likely has not been running for at least 15 years. I have the VIN but DOL says their records are purged "after six years" and they have no way to determine ownership. This seems kind of crazy to me, but that's what they say. I've submitted a second request trying to trace it via the names of the probable/possible owners.

Is there another place I can search that might give me a clue on ownership? Or can I get it junked/donated without a title in some fashion?

Sincerely,

Eric

Eric C. Nelsen
Sayre Law Offices, PLLC
1417 31st Ave South
Seattle WA 98144-3909
206-625-0092
eric at sayrelawoffices.com<mailto:eric at sayrelawoffices.com>

Covid-19 Update - All attorneys are working remotely during regular business hours and are available via email and by phone. Videoconferencing also is available. Signing of estate planning documents can be completed and will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please direct mail and deliveries to the Seattle office.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/wsbapt/attachments/20220927/532275aa/attachment.html>