Consumer Title Resource | Since 2009! We Serve All 50 States!

What is a

COURT ORDERED TITLE?

Court Ordered Title

Customer Stories

Court-Ordered Titles work. Read the stories and experiences of CarTitle customers.

Featured Case Study

Success Story: Vehicle Purchased at Auction with No Title

Nelson purchased a car through a Copart Blue Light Auction and was not provided a title at the time of sale. He used our Court-Ordered Title (Paperwork Only) process to successfully obtain a car title.

Read Full Story

In cases where all other vehicle title recovery methods are not available, you may be able to use the court system to pursue a vehicle title. You would need to file a court case with your local county or circuit court. These cases are similar to lawsuits, and are sometimes referred to as “writ of mandamus” or “in rem” lawsuits. You would be suing the vehicle to have the judge declare you the owner of the vehicle.

Top Things to Know About Court Ordered Titles:

The court overrides the DMV, and bypasses restrictive requirements
You need to prepare the court forms from scratch, there are no pre-made templates
You can NOT get information on “court ordered titles” from the court by phone
There are no specific requirements for the process, it is up to the magistrate

Do’s & Don’ts

DO use the court ordered title process if the DMV / Registry is giving you the runaround

DON’T call/visit the court to ask about “court ordered title” They do not have specific “names” for cases, they just need you to submit a petition describing what you want them to do (i.e., to give you a title)

DON’T expect to find any pre-made forms to fill in the blanks. Court documents need to be created from an empty sheet of paper. (instructions on our website)

DO expect the court to be able to resolve conflicts with the DMV or bypass complex requirements from the DMV / Registry

DON’T expect the title to be issued any sooner than 14 business days.

DO make sure you are in possession of the vehicle.

DON’T use court ordered process to try to get a title for a stolen vehicle

DO use the court ordered title process if you have a lienholder not giving you a lien release

How Does It Work?

Actions Provided by CarTitles.com

• Determine court location based on applicant

• Compile document list

a. Petition of ownership

b. Affidavit of facts

c. Declaration of interest

d. Title application

• Prepare documents

• Request vehicle ownership history

Vehicle records searched using multiple official sources as needed

a. NMVTIS

b. DPPA

c. Investigative resources

• Prepare vehicle status inquiry

• Prepare prior owner request letter

• Prepare lienholder request letter

• Verify VIN and address with applicant

• Ship documents to applicant

• Send request to prior owner & lienholder

• Provide applicant/client advisory call

Possible Actions by Court

• Court response

The court will respond, here are examples:

a. Approval of judgment

b. Request VIN photos

c. Request Copy of license

d. Affirmation of facts

e. Referral to another jurisdiction

• Judgment of ownership issued

Customer Action

• Client signature on documents

• Documents filed with the court clerk (envelope provided)

• File with DMV

• DMV requirements met

The DMV or title authority in your state may have standard requirements to issue a new vehicle title. These may include:

a. Inspection

b. Taxes

c. Insurance

• New title document issued

Each jurisdiction has different procedures, but usually they require that you start by filing an affidavit of facts stating how you came to be in possession of the vehicle, and what you know about the history of the vehicle. Then you make a public notice in the local legal newspaper asking that any parties claiming an interest in the vehicle come forward. The court will also do some background research. Once all of the procedures are complete, the court will set a hearing date for you to return to the courthouse and if approved, they issue a judgment of ownership.

There is no formal document or fill-in-the-blanks form for court filings. You would need to write the complaint in the format used in that county. You may wish to get legal advice from a qualified attorney. For an example of how this process is handled in Maryland you can visit this link.

Each location is a different specific process, but this can give you the basic idea. Normally the process takes 45 – 90 days, but can sometimes takes 6 months depending on the court calendar.

More Than 2,000,000 Titles Processed

Click Here to order

$369

CarTitles.com

Call us: 256-448-4853

5568 Woodbine Rd PMB 710
Pace, FL 32571

Help@CarTitles.com

We believe getting a car title should be made easier. That is why we support the EStart title advocacy coalition.

Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization looking for title assistance with donated vehicles? Learn more about how CarTitles can help prepare your transfer paperwork for no cost. Contact Help@CarTitles.com for more information.