Title problem question
 

Not SVX related.

A friend of mine has a big problem. He bought a Ford Truck a while ago and tucked the title in his desk until he could get to the DMV. He pulled the title out of the drawer and somehow it had gotten water damage where the previous owners signed the car over to him. He tried calling (he had their phone number) and he sent a letter, but they had moved and he does not know where he can possibly find them.

Is there anyway that he can get a title for the car? He lives in Maryland.

Obviously the moral of this story is to get the car in your name as soon as you buy it.

Any help is appreciated. My friend would hate to have to sell this perfectly good truck as a parts car.

Thanks.

Does he have any other documentation? Bill of Sale?

Is the signature there but damaged, or completely washed away?

I don't know if he has a bill of sale. The signature is completely washed away.

Is it an out of state transfer? I'd request a duplicate title, sign his name, sign mine, and get the new title.

Title isn't in his name so he can't request a dup. Did he try doing a anywho style search for the seller on the net? Did his letter come back to him (not forwarded). What kind of water damage. Can he sign it himself for the seller.

Sure you can. There's usually a form you can download and mail in. Don't need to be in person, just contact the household which address it was registered in and ask them to be on the lookout for it. I fyou explain properly, I'm sure they'd understand.

Tried searching for the person on anywho. But they JUST moved. The letter did come back and had a note on it that said MOVED. Water damage was on the front and bled to the back and completely destroyed the signature. The problem is that it would be obvious if he signed it him self (I asked him the same question). And to get a duplicate there has to be a check (fee for a duplicate title) with the owners name and address on it. Maryland is a pain in the @$$ when it comes to this stuff. I just went through hell and back trying to get my Caddy's title straightened out.

One idea was to make up some checks with his account # put their names and adress on it to request a duplicate, but that is very risky...especially if you're caught. Maryland DMV workers have nothing better to do than bother the **** out of people anyway. I heard somewhere that a Mechanic can have it declared abandoned? Or finding a parts truck with a good title and vin plates...

Is it notarized? I know some states require titles to be notarized when signed, might help if the notary stamp is still there..

In Oregon they have a form that you can use if a title is damaged, if they have a similar form there, he might be able to fill it out and fake sign it lol... I'd call the DMV, see what they say...

it won't be notarized cause MD doesn't do it that way.

I'd have someone else sign it and tell the DMV that it was waterdamaged before the signature and the seller just signed it in "about the right place" on the document.

Okie dokey then I'll just apply for a dup title for YOUR car now and sign it over to me. Please send me your keys!:lol: Trust me, you can't for that very reason.:rolleyes::D

Going the abandoned route takes plenty of time patience and knowledged of the system. Can take up to 5 years in some cases.

I too like Subemans idea. Just have someone else sign it either in that location or somewhere else. If they reject it then they will open up an investigation and find the old owner to verify the sale in most cases.

Thanks guys. My friend is just trying to be careful about this.

cough, forge his sig cough

They are not allowed to question a signature. If it is washed all the way, away, Sign the guys name and TRY it at MVA.

American Title Service will get you 'documentation' on stuff older than 10 years, buy can be 'pricey'

It will come out of 'somewhere in the north east'