for display only
Big Blue Interactive The Corner Forum  
Back to the Corner

Archived Thread

NFT: Transferring car ownership after a death in the family (NJ)

haper : 9/28/2024 5:00 pm
My dad passed away, leaving a car whose title and registration are in his name. His will has everything going to my mom, who wants me to take the car. Looking at the NJDMV web pages, I'm unable to figure out how to transfer things into my name. Any suggestions?

I've read abt a transfer on death beneficiary form, my understanding is this should have been completed before my dad passed. I'd also like to avoid dragging my mom to DMV.

I suspect you will need a limited power of attorney  
George from PA : 9/28/2024 5:12 pm : link
.
With the will in probate  
BillT : 9/28/2024 5:17 pm : link
You should get letters testamentary that should allow the transfer of property either directly to you or likely first to the beneficiary and then she can transfer it to you by signing the title over.
RE: With the will in probate  
section125 : 9/28/2024 5:38 pm : link
In comment 16629410 BillT said:
Quote:
You should get letters testamentary that should allow the transfer of property either directly to you or likely first to the beneficiary and then she can transfer it to you by signing the title over.


Why would he go to probate? The car goes to his mom. Transfer title to her. She then signs it to him.
Letter of testimony  
56n11bestever : 9/28/2024 7:38 pm : link
Sorry for your loss.

My father passed in ny. I was executor. Had the death certificate and letter of testimony and sold the car to myself for a dollar.

Should be the same with title to your mom

Good luck
RE: RE: With the will in probate  
Eman11 : 9/29/2024 7:34 am : link
In comment 16629434 section125 said:
Quote:
In comment 16629410 BillT said:


Quote:


You should get letters testamentary that should allow the transfer of property either directly to you or likely first to the beneficiary and then she can transfer it to you by signing the title over.



Why would he go to probate? The car goes to his mom. Transfer title to her. She then signs it to him.


This is exactly what we did. It was signed over as a gift on the new tittle and no money was required in the transfer.
Sorry to miller I have no advice  
pjcas18 : 9/29/2024 8:59 am : link
and my condolences on your loss, Haper.

but a question I have in preparation for this kind of thing myself in the next few years, how would he transfer the title to his mom? wouldn't his father, as the current title holder need to sign it? Or would the executor of the estate have that power?

Side not which may or may not be relevant: I just transferred title of one of my cars to my kids so they could get a parking sticker in South Boston and it was all done without me going to RMV (DMV but in MA). So I think it can be done without your mom going to the DMV, but every state could be different.

But I did have to sign the title.
Maybe he signed the title over to Mom before death  
give66 : 9/29/2024 9:45 am : link
And gifted the car to her. Wink wink.
Sorry for your loss.
RE: Maybe he signed the title over to Mom before death  
pjcas18 : 9/29/2024 10:36 am : link
In comment 16630026 give66 said:
Quote:
And gifted the car to her. Wink wink.
Sorry for your loss.


in MA (not sure about NJ) to do that you need to file paperwork (form RMV-1) with the state registry of motor vehicles (and of course pay a fee), it's not a simple as just signing the title over.
RE: RE: With the will in probate  
bradshaw44 : 9/29/2024 10:50 am : link
In comment 16629434 section125 said:
Quote:
In comment 16629410 BillT said:


Quote:


You should get letters testamentary that should allow the transfer of property either directly to you or likely first to the beneficiary and then she can transfer it to you by signing the title over.



Why would he go to probate? The car goes to his mom. Transfer title to her. She then signs it to him.


This is correct. She can sign the title over to you. Doesn’t have to go to the dmv. Is the car paid off?
Thanks  
haper : 9/29/2024 9:23 pm : link
Thanks for all the input. To address brandshaw's question, yes the car is paid for. It's not worth much, less than $5k, and is being used as a spare car for the various grandchildren in the area. I've suggested selling the car outright but she'd like to keep it in the family.
RE: Sorry to miller I have no advice  
haper : 9/29/2024 9:31 pm : link
In comment 16630003 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
I have in preparation for this kind of thing myself in the next few years

If you live in NJ, you should have the owner complete the transfer on death beneficiary form available online. This will make the process a lot easier. It certainly is an uncomfortable conversation to have. No matter how complicated the process is for me now, I'd much rather deal w it than to explain to my dad that he was dying and he should sign this paper to 'make things easier'. Life is so weird sometimes.
Back to the Corner