by Guest » Mon Jul 12, 2010 09:39 pm
relative living with me passed away unexpectedly owing a small amount on car - I have picked up the note and insurance. Can other relatives claim vehicle if I am making notes or report it as stolen?
Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:07 pm Post Subject:
Well, as they used to say, possession is everything. Your assumption of the debt and insurance may be reasonable, although I'm not sure what difficulty you would have transferring ownership on title from the decedent to yourself.
However, paying the note to prevent repossession only gives you a claim against the estate of the decedent. Claims to property, such as the car (or your cash reimbursement for note and insurance payments), by heirs is a matter for the probate court to decide if there is no will. Having demonstrated responsibility for those things probably tips the scale in your favor to petition the judge to award you the vehicle itself.
While anyone can possibly report the car as stolen, the fact that it hasn't truly been stolen makes the report false, which itself is a crime. You might want to contact the local PD or your DMV to discuss the situation more fully.
If other relatives think you're trying to cheat them, offer them the opportunity to make the payments you're currently making, then see what happens. Probably no takers on that account.
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