Our car was registered under my name and my late husband's. How do I clear title now that he has passed away?

A:

If the ownership document (pink slip) of a vehicle shows your name and your late husband's name joined by "or" (Nancy Miller or Robert Jenks, for instance), or joined by "and" but with the mention "as joint tenants" (Nancy Miller and Robert Jenks, as joint tenants), then the vehicle is held in joint tenancy.

The transfer of ownership can be done with the assistance of an automobile club, or you can go directly to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) who will confirm how to proceed. In all cases, you will be asked to submit:

• A copy of the deceased's death certificate
• The vehicle's pink slip, which is signed on the back by the surviving tenant (you)
• The registration slip of the vehicle
• A transfer fee

Sometimes, the owner mentions a beneficiary in case of death with a transfer on death form, which is done when registering the vehicle. The same procedure as described above would apply.

Call San Diego estate planning and probate attorney Scott Grossman for a free discussion of your case, and order his free book The Insider's Guide to California Probate and Trust Administration.