Q: I'm listed as beneficiary on a car registration, do I go to the DMV and claim it or does it need to go through probate?
My mother and father were both signed to the car but both of them have passed recently. The vehicle is physically in my possession as is the title, they gifted me the car but couldn't go to the DMV in person for the paperwork so it was never officially put in my name. I live in Virginia and they lived in Connecticut. Would I go to the DMV (in CT or VA?) and claim the vehicle based on being the beneficiary on the registration or do I need to put it as an asset of my mother's when going through probate court. I'm scared of misstepping because I'm the executor of the estate and don't want to accidentally do anything illegal or untrustworthy before going through probate but the DMV gives me a time limit to claim the car. Thank you so much for your help!
A:
The car is not subject to probate and should not be listed on the probate inventory.
The title transfer is handled by Connecticut DMV.
The vehicle should however be listed on the CT estate tax return, which is typically filed as part of probate.
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