Short version: I paid cash for a car from the owner and THOUGHT I had all the paperwork in order. The title has 2 names on it (no "or" or "And") but I got only one signature. The other signature I need is from this guy's ex-wife... and since he already has my $$$ he's not being super helpful. Is there anyway I can get the title transferred to me without his ex-wife's signature? Can I call a lawyer to help me out or will that just cost more than the vehicle was worth in the first place($3,000)?? I currently live in TX and the car is titled in TX as well.

2/21/2013 6:42:53 PM

You can probably track down a copy of the divorce decree from the county courthouse it was done in. Here is some info from the Texas DMV office. http://www.txdmv.gov/vehicles/titles/faq.htm

Quote :

"How do I sell a vehicle that is titled in my ex-spouse's name but awarded to me in the divorce decree? If the divorce decree awards the vehicle to you, give a certified copy to your county tax office and apply for a title. If the decree does not award the vehicle to you, a properly assigned title (a title where your ex-spouse signed the document over to you) will be required."

I'm not sure if it'll have to first be title in his name, then retitled to you in NC. Hopefully this guy was awarded the vehicle and hasn't already left town, if not you may have just made a $3,000 mistake.

2/21/2013 8:30:40 PM

Or A $3000 track car...

2/21/2013 8:45:35 PM

Not to be a dick, but how did you manage to give the dude money without making sure the title transfer was legit? I wouldn't surrender the cash until the title transfer was notarized, personally.

2/22/2013 10:43:45 AM

I don't even understand why married couples put both names on everything. Is there any benefit to it? Seems like it just creates more hassle having to coordinate with two people's schedules to buy or sell something. If they're married the name on the title won't matter in the divorce settlement anyway. There's a 50/50 chance the title will be correct after the divorce if only one name is on it. There's a 100% chance the title will be incorrect after the divorce if both names are on it. Probably only works if your wife isn't a crazy controlling beeotch I guess.

[Edited on February 22, 2013 at 11:59 AM. Reason : l]

2/22/2013 11:57:30 AM

Whoops. You live in TX.

[Edited on February 22, 2013 at 2:18 PM. Reason : Not NC]

2/22/2013 2:18:17 PM

^^a lot of times they need the dual income to qualify for financing. if so, then both names must go on the loan, then both names get put on the title.

2/22/2013 4:12:46 PM

Odds are he just took a fat shit on you. I'd suggest calling a lawyer and just focusing on getting your money back. Bitches are not helpful after a divorce.

2/22/2013 4:23:16 PM

why would you even do this without getting both signatures when it gets notarized? that's 101 shit.

2/22/2013 4:52:40 PM

Quote :

"^^a lot of times they need the dual income to qualify for financing. if so, then both names must go on the loan, then both names get put on the title."

That makes sense.

2/22/2013 5:15:27 PM

(what would make more sense is not financing cars that you can only most marginally afford, but that's another discussion)

2/22/2013 8:43:19 PM

(well, yeah)

2/22/2013 8:55:22 PM

(inoright)

2/22/2013 11:57:30 PM

the easiest way is just to forge the ex-wife's signature.

2/27/2013 9:38:10 AM

Also, the easiest way to end up on probation is to forge the ex-wife's signature.

2/27/2013 11:16:04 AM

When I bought my current car, the title was in his/her fashion. But she was overseas on deployment.

He signed for himself and her with Power of Attorney, then it was notarized. First DMV told me his PoA was done incorrectly, showed the correct way his PoA signature should look, said I had to take it back to him to correct, and then get an affidavit from the Notary. All I did was took the title to a DMV in a smaller town, and the clerk took it from me, shook her head then starting writing all over it. Title transfer went through no problem after that.

2/27/2013 5:49:38 PM