My question involves vehicle registration or title in the state of: Texas
My step son bought a car from a guy. The guy signed the title and gave it to my son. The car broke down a few weeks after my step son bought it and he had his uncle bring it down to us to fix. The day after his uncle brought it to us, the seller claimed my step son didn't finish paying him the full price and wants the car back. My step son now lives with us. We just received the title from his mom (they never switched the title to my step son's name, but both signatures are on the back of the title (seller and buyer). We also received prior notices that the seller is trying to sue my step son in small claims court for the amount of $550. $400 for the car, $60 tow fee and $90 court cost.
Here are my questions. Can this guy actually do this? There was never a receipt for the car, just money exchanging hands and the title being signed. Also, we still haven't fixed the car since we didn't know exactly what was going on with it, but now that we have a signed title can we go ahead and get it changed over to my step son's name? Before we received the title, I called the DMV and asked about the title and they told me that the guy had bought a certified copy of the title in March. Does that mean his title over rules the original? Is this car legally my step son's car?
Thanks to anyone who can help.
Anderson

