Q: Is a bill of sale that is not notarized, missing information or has incorrect information, or was given false info legal
So I recently Traded my boat for another. We both assured each other that the boats were perfectly sound and in running Condition. So he wrote a bill of sale and I signed the paper that wasn’t notarized and he handed me the title. I informed him I do not have the title to the boat I traded and it’s not in my name at the moment. He said that was okay that his wife is a notary and can deal with it with the bill of sale. She never presented identification, neither did we to each other or anything and was not given the information from her stating she was. Well the boat was in the water for 5 minutes today which was not even 24hrs the boat was in my possession and it was not at all in the riding condition he claimed. He also claimed that he would not screw me over and give me a deficient boat. Well I come to find out it was leaking, motor was about shot, and was just not in the condition he stated it was. So is there anyway even after I signed the bill of sale, I can get my boat back!?
A: The fact that it is not notarized or has missing information is of no import. Incorrect info maybe/maybe not. Where you may win is fraud. You may have to file suit to do it, but if he made fraudulent misrepresentations about his boat, you should prevail.
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