Motor Vehicle Title Transfer

If a decedent dies with no probate assets (i.e., owns nothing in their name alone) except for one or more motor vehicles whose total value is not more than $60,000, title to the vehicles can be transferred by the Secretary of State without opening an estate in the Probate Court.

Disclaimer
This entire procedure is done at a Secretary of State Office, not the Probate Court.

Requirements

• Secretary of State Form Used: TR-29, Certification from the Heir to a Vehicle (PDF)
• Attach the vehicle title (if available) to the form
• A certified copy of the death certificate for the owner of the vehicle must also be presented

Priorities
Title to the motor vehicles(s) will be given according to the following priority:

• Surviving spouse
• Surviving descendants (i.e., children and/or grandchildren).
• Surviving parents
• Surviving grandparents or descendants of predeceased grandparents

For More Information
See Department of State for detailed information at the Department of State website.