After funerals at funeral homes, as executors are taking care of matters pertaining to the estate of a loved one, one of the assets they’ll need to deal with are any vehicles that are part of the estate.
Before you even start to do anything with the vehicles, however, you will need to legally obtain ownership of them as the executor of the estate. Unless your name is on the existing vehicle titles as co-owner of the vehicles, such as is often the case with spouses, then you’ll need the vehicle titles.
If the vehicles are paid off, the titles may be in the glovebox of each vehicle along with the proof of insurance and registration information. However, don’t count on finding the title being that easy.
It’s important to know that without the title of the vehicle, you can’t register it, you can’t insure it, you can’t transfer it, you can’t donate it, and you can’t sell it. More than that, you can’t even legally drive the vehicle. So, finding the vehicle title is very important.
If the vehicle titles aren’t in the glovebox of the vehicles, then check among the deceased’s important papers (or in desk drawers in their home office) to see if the titles are there. If you can’t find the vehicle titles in the obvious places, then extend your search to basements or garages, looking for boxes or containers that contain documents.
If this search proves unfruitful, then next you’ll need to check for the title online. Here you will find out if the title was processed by the state. The most common reason for vehicle titles not being processed is that they were purchased with cash and simply transferred ownership of the car with a handshake, never bothering to record the sale (and pay taxes) and have the title processed by the state.
Most states enable you to check the status of vehicle titles simply by entering the VIN numbers (located either on a sticker on the driver’s door or near the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side of the car). You can also use CARFAX to determine who the last register owners of the vehicles were.
If the vehicle titles were not processed (which means your loved one who has died is not listed as the current owner), then you’ll need to take the documentation you have to the DMV and apply for a substitute title.
The DMV will first try to locate the last registered owner of the vehicles (this could be two or more different people, depending on how many vehicles you have). This is in the form of a letter asking the registered owner if the vehicles were sold.
Each state has a designated length of time in which the registered owner must reply. If the answer is that the car was sold or there is no answer at all (the state assumes the registered owner is deceased), then a title will be issued in the name of your deceased loved one.
If you can’t find the vehicle titles at all, you can request a duplicate copy from the vehicle registration office. You will need the registration cards (or VIN numbers), a notarized copy of the will, a death certificate, a photo ID, and a method of payment to obtain a duplicate title.
If you need resources to help execute an estate after funerals at funeral homes, our empathetic and knowledgeable staff at Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home can assist you. You can stop by our funeral home at 483 Chenango St., Binghamton, NY 13901, or you can contact us today at (607) 722-4023.