Q: If a person dies without a will, how can her daughter, who maintains the payments, transfer the title into her name?
My friend died unexpectedly. She did not leave a will, and her daughter wants to keep her vehicle. The car holds deep sentimental value, but the title is still in the deceased's name. The payments are updated but the daughter wants to transfer the title. She is extraordinarily distraught, in mourning, and is unable to afford an attorney. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so very much in advance.
A:
Disclaimer: The materials provided below are informational and should not be relied upon as legal advice.
I am sorry for your loss. Since your late friend had no estate plan, her estate will need to go through probate. In California, for small estates (i.e., estates with total value of $150,000 or less), the law provides a shorter and less costly procedure. Take a look at this webpage which provides brief description of the process involved: http://www.courts.ca.gov/10440.htm. Be sure to consult your own attorney to protect your legal rights.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
