oledawgnew t1_jeawv9o wrote on March 30, 2023 at 6:07 PM

>Anyway to deal with it without involving a lawyer and courts?

Not sure what the issue is here. A copy of the death certificate and a letter from your father in law could have just signed the car over to you on the title. That with a copy of the death certificate would have probably been enough for DMV. If you called DMV they could probably give you an answer about how to take care of it.

Frozenlazer t1_jeaxj6s wrote on March 30, 2023 at 6:11 PM

The issue is that the father-in-law might not be the legal owner of the car. Sure for most people their entire state passes to their spouse but it doesn't have to be that way. If the father-in-law is the legal owner then sure what you propose is exactly what I would suggest as well.

oledawgnew t1_jeayi6o wrote on March 30, 2023 at 6:17 PM

Understand the issue of legal owner. But I'm sure the DMV can tell them how to proceed with more accuracy than us guessers on Reddit--surely this is not an uncommon issue for DMV.

Frozenlazer t1_jebiwph wrote on March 30, 2023 at 8:27 PM

DMV is defintlely not going to give legal advice on how to settle an estate. Hell around here they can barely provide guidance on how to do things that are their core business.

oledawgnew t1_jebklh5 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 8:38 PM

>DMV is defintlely not going to give legal advice on how to settle an estate.

Probably not but I'd definitely start there before spending money on a lawyer. Besides OP isn't looking for advice on how to settle an estate, just want to know options on getting rid of a car that's titled to a deceased person. If DMV can't help the only thing lost is time spent on the phone. In the county I live in we have a very good DMV that falls under the tax office.