Q: As the title holder am I held liable for what the registered drives does? Accidents? Death?
My brother wants to transfer multiple vehicle titles into my name to avoid them being seized for child support payments.
A:
A better question would be "am I committing fraud if assets are transferred in my name solely for avoiding creditor payments". The answer would be YES.
There's something called the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act. It's called the Uniform Voidable Transfer Act in Washington, but there are both civil and criminal penalties for this type of behavior. Here are the RCWs regarding the civil and criminal consequences.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=19.40
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.45&full=true#9.45.090
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A: As the owner of the vehicle, you are generally liable for the actions of persons you permit or allow to use the vehicle. You do not want your brother's legal and financial problems to become your legal and financial problems. Steve Dashiak's answer is spot on. There's an old Shakespearean adage: What tangled webs we weave when we practice to deceive. This would certainly make for some awkward moments around the family dinner table when your niece or nephew learn that you received their father's assets so he could avoid paying child support for them. I recommend you consult with an attorney in your area to discuss this more specifically.
1 user found this answer helpful
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