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How to Recover a Jointly Owned Car From Your Ex-

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  • 12-14-2017, 05:44 AM
    zx7ninja
    How to Recover a Jointly Owned Car From Your Ex-
    My question involves vehicle registration or title in the state of: Connecticut.

    Hi guys. I need some help. Me ex girlfriend and I broke up a few months ago. She has a car that is in her name only, and my car is in both of our names. I'm primary, and she is secondary on the title. If it even matters. Last night, she asked me to come visit the kids. She immediately started arguing, which I did not feed into.

    She grabbed the keys from my hand, got in the car, and drove away. I have no idea where the car is right now. I called the police, because of dual ownership, they can't help. I have lots of personal property in the car, including stereo equipment, and even my laundry! Which I was heading out to do.

    I'd like to know any remedies to get my car back? As I said, title is in both our names. But reg is in hers. No reason, she was just the one off that day to go to DMV. I made all payments and can prove it. I'm not sure replevin is the proper course, as it's not in police custody.

    I at least want my stuff back. But would like the whole car. Incidentally, during the 90 minutes she had my keys before the police recovered them for me, she entered my new apartment and cleaned it out. Which she admitted to the police she did. A warrant for that is being issued today. Only my house keys were recovered. I have no car key.

    Please help. Thanks!
  • 12-14-2017, 06:03 AM
    llworking
    Re: Hi, Need Help Regarding Shared Vehicle
    If you can find where the car is located, you can call a locksmith to make you a new key...or to even rekey the ignition. If is a keyless ignition you can go get another key from the dealer.
  • 12-14-2017, 06:14 AM
    zx7ninja
    Re: Hi, Need Help Regarding Shared Vehicle
    Quote:

    Quoting llworking
    View Post
    If you can find where the car is located, you can call a locksmith to make you a new key...or to even rekey the ignition. If is a keyless ignition you can go get another key from the dealer.

    No keyless ignition. I believe it to be in her driveway, but no way to get there.

    I can get the ignition rekeyed. But can't she just tow it back? Crazy back and forth.

    I can't hide the car.

    Any legal remedy for possession?
  • 12-14-2017, 06:16 AM
    llworking
    Re: Hi, Need Help Regarding Shared Vehicle
    Quote:

    Quoting zx7ninja
    View Post
    No keyless ignition. I believe it to be in her driveway, but no way to get there.

    I can get the ignition rekeyed. But can't she just tow it back? Crazy back and forth.

    I can't hide the car.

    Any legal remedy for possession?

    If you have made all the payments and can prove that, you can try suing her in court for the car.
  • 12-14-2017, 10:54 AM
    Mr. Knowitall
    Re: Hi, Need Help Regarding Shared Vehicle
    Quote:

    Quoting llworking
    View Post
    If you have made all the payments and can prove that, you can try suing her in court for the car.

    ...Or the value of the car. If she's on the title, her ownership rights and right of possession aren't affected by who is making the car payments.
  • 12-14-2017, 10:58 AM
    llworking
    Re: Hi, Need Help Regarding Shared Vehicle
    Quote:

    Quoting Mr. Knowitall
    View Post
    ...Or the value of the car. If she's on the title, her ownership rights and right of possession aren't affected by who is making the car payments.

    No, but if she was merely on there with the intent to be a cosigner, and it was always intended to be his car, then he might be able to get the car, or she might roll over and give him the car once she realizes that she could lose.
  • 12-14-2017, 11:09 AM
    Mr. Knowitall
    Re: Hi, Need Help Regarding Shared Vehicle
    Quote:

    Quoting llworking
    View Post
    No, but if she was merely on there with the intent to be a cosigner, and it was always intended to be his car, then he might be able to get the car, or she might roll over and give him the car once she realizes that she could lose.

    The legal basis for such a theory would be what, again? Cosigners sign to guarantee loans. They aren't co-owners, and they aren't named on the title.
  • 12-14-2017, 11:25 AM
    llworking
    Re: Hi, Need Help Regarding Shared Vehicle
    Quote:

    Quoting Mr. Knowitall
    View Post
    The legal basis for such a theory would be what, again? Cosigners sign to guarantee loans. They aren't co-owners, and they aren't named on the title.

    Every cosigning situation that I have been in regarding cars has had the cosigner on the title. Whether I was the original borrower or the cosigner. I have never seen a case where the cosigner wasn't on the title. Maybe it varies from state to state?
  • 12-14-2017, 01:33 PM
    jk
    Re: Hi, Need Help Regarding Shared Vehicle
    Quote:

    Quoting llworking
    View Post
    Every cosigning situation that I have been in regarding cars has had the cosigner on the title. Whether I was the original borrower or the cosigner. I have never seen a case where the cosigner wasn't on the title. Maybe it varies from state to state?

    I have. When young and with no credit my father co-signed for me. His name was not on the title. There is no reason for a co-signer (guarantor) to be named on the title. Their place in the matter has nothing to do with ownership. They are simply guaranteeing the loan, nothing more.
  • 12-14-2017, 05:09 PM
    Mr. Knowitall
    Re: Hi, Need Help Regarding Shared Vehicle
    Quote:

    Quoting llworking
    View Post
    Every cosigning situation that I have been in regarding cars has had the cosigner on the title. Whether I was the original borrower or the cosigner. I have never seen a case where the cosigner wasn't on the title. Maybe it varies from state to state?

    There is nothing in being a cosigner that makes you a co-owner. If your state allows a notation on the title that so-and-so cosigned for a loan, that would not make the cosigner into a co-owner.

    If the state allows a cosigner to be named on the title along with the lender, then the cosigner would likely gain repossession rights in the event of default; if only the lender is named, then only the lender can repossess.
  • 12-15-2017, 04:27 AM
    zx7ninja
    Re: How to Recover a Jointly Owned Car From Your Ex-
    Well, there is currently a warrant out for her arrest. Charges in use felonies.
    As the car was taken and used in crimes, they are considering expanding the scope of the case to include the car.
    Further, the victims advocate may require the car to be returned to me. We shall see.

    Bad situation. Meanwhile this all happened in front of my children.
    She has been going down hill for months, and has finally snapped.
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