Title Holder versus Lein Holder

[sweylman]

Women can be such fools! (At least this one can.) After living with a man for 5 years I accepted an out of state job assignment that was scheduled to last approximately 1 year. Before I left (from NY to CA) my "boyfriend" talked me into signing over one of my vehicles, which I am still faithfully making payments on. To my surprise, 6 months into my temporary job assignment, he got married. I would like to have my vehicle returned, but he refuses (it is legally registered and titled in his name). However he will not pick up the payments and I am the lein holder. I did talk to the bank, if I stop making payments they will reposses it and I can buy it back for the $ owed on it plus the costs associated with the repossesion, which I will do if there are no other options. However, once it is repossesed and I have it released, how can I title and register it in my name? Or is it destined to sit in my garage for the next 30 years? It was a new vehicle when I bought it and the original registration was in my name. The bank, of course, has never cleared the title although the DMV did allow me to transfer it. Who is the legal owner?

 

[Theresagail]

The bank is the legal owner-- once the car is Repoed, and they sale it to you they will give you the title and a repossession form transferring the owner from him to you. You will then take this info to the DMV to re-register it.