Help Finding My Vehicle

**airmansgirl** · 12-25-2007, 08:37 AM

I have a vehicle that I purchased prior to my marriage. It is paid off, but my ex-husband decided that since he drove it while we were married it was his to take, and he did. He has been hiding it for the last year, refusing to tell me where it is. I have the title free and clear, and his name is not now, nor ever has been on it. Police say I cannot report it stolen because he had prior authorization to use it. Does anyone have any idea how I can go about legally "repossessing" my own vehicle? He wont drive it because it hasnt been registered/inspected/insured since he took it from me. I would think I have a right to know where my own car is!! I did place a lein on the title in my husbands name, just so he could not forge a lost title application and get it retitled in his name. Technically my husband has the right to take posession, but we don't know how to legally go about it. We want to make sure we do everything by the book(there's still a custody dispute going on)

Our divorce decree makes no mention of the vehicle whatsoever, so he has absolutely nothing that shows he should have ownership of the truck. I'm afraid he's going to try and trade it in or something without my consent. Since he had the vehicle I had been driving when we separated repo'd (we were buying it from his family member so they just up and took it back- when I had only 5 payments left, and I'd had it for 3 years- which left me with nothing to drive--and he claimed in court that I couldnt provide for my kids because I had no transportation...

I just want my truck. I could care less about anything else. How can I go about forcing him to disclose its whereabouts?

This is in Tarrant County, Texas.

jk · 12-25-2007, 09:50 AM

from your post, I believe you know where the ex is, correct?

So, send a letter CRRR demanding the return of the car. That stops any permissive possession.
Then, rather than deal with the police, contact the DA's office yourself and request charges for auto theft be investigated and undertaken.

There are other crimes that are a possibility as well such as conversion but I would shoot for the theft charge.

**airmansgirl** · 01-10-2008, 09:38 AM

Thank you for the reply. I verbally demanded my vehicle be returned, and he refused. I served him with a demand letter, he still refuses to comply. I called the police department and they refuse to allow me to file a report for it as stolen. In fact they wont let me report it as anything. The police are the ones that told me I could report it stolen in the first place.

I called the DA, and they refuse to pursue any charges without a police report. If I cannot file a police report, and I cannot press charges through the DA, I am basically out of options, I guess. The judge wouldn't enforce making him return it to me, so I guess I am just out my vehicle, and it will be forever lost to me?

I absolutely cannot BELIEVE that there is no way for me to recover my vehicle. How is it that this a** can get away with this and I have no legal recourse?!