Q: How can I find out who is on the title of the car I am in possession of?
My son-in-law purchased a car for me in Georgia from a salvage yard and only rec'd a bill of sale. Salvage yard only gave info that the car had a lien and they got car in lieu of lien and that previous owner is deceased. Salvage company washed their hands of it and are no longer cooperative, let alone, assist in getting the title. Son-in-law took bill of sale to DMV and got temp registration. They then drove the car to me in Florida. I ran a VIN check and it isn't stolen or salvaged, nor does it have a lien, but it has a Maryland title. How in the heck do I get a title? I can't even find out who the previous owner was (or their estate), so I can't do a diligent search for them. Maryland will not cooperate with a title bond or anything - they want this done through the court. Do I put in a petition with the State of Florida? I have no idea what to do, I have very little money and can't even drive the car legally since the temp registration has expired! Any advice would be greatly apprec
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A:
To resolve this issue, you'll need to navigate a few steps carefully. Since the car has a Maryland title and Maryland requires a court process to clear the title, you'll need to follow their requirements. You might want to contact a Maryland attorney who deals with title issues or consider reaching out to the court directly to understand the process for a petition to declare the vehicle as abandoned or to transfer the title.
Meanwhile, in Florida, you could explore filing a petition with the court to obtain ownership through a process known as a "quiet title" action. This legal process helps to establish ownership when the title is disputed or unclear. Given the car's history, providing the bill of sale, the VIN check results, and any documents from the salvage yard will be crucial in supporting your case.
It may also be helpful to visit your local Florida DMV again and explain the full situation to see if they can provide any additional steps or advice. While this process might take time and involve some fees, it is often the only way to resolve such complicated title issues legally. Make sure to keep detailed records of all communications and documents related to the car and its title history.
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