Is Anyone Here a Lawyer or Member of Law Enforcement?

[NinerDoug]

Originally Posted by GabyKeepsMeWarm

I've got a situation.

My dad died in May of last year, and I'm the executor of his estate. It's been a nightmare. He died without a will and sorting through everything has been an awful mess.

My father lived in Iowa, and he had a "companion" that he met online. I've been very skeptical of this woman from the outset, but how do you tell your 78 year old father he's being taken for a ride? His "companion" lives in New Mexico, and my father would go down to New Mexico during the Winter months. Dad bought a motor home and left it in New Mexico, giving her full access. However, the motor home was only titled and registered in his name.

Well, after dad died, I discovered this woman had the motor home retitled and registered in her name.

I've spoken to several lawyers, including the DA of the county in which the motor home was stolen, as well as the state police and local law enforcement, and I haven't gotten anywhere.

Law enforcement is calling it a civil matter, even saying that this woman claims my father gave her the vehicle prior to his death. It's incredibly frustrating. If her claims are true, which they are not, why did she wait until after he died to retitle and reregister the vehicle?

Every attorney I've spoken to is calling this a law enforcement matter.

It's like nobody wants to do their ****ing job, and I'm at my wits end about this.

Any advice?

Trouble I see is: She says, "He gave it to me."

What evidence do you have to prove he didn't?

I would start with the whatever she submitted to the DMV when she changed title and registration. I would imagine that, if your father did in fact give it to her, he would have had to sign off on the title. (That's how it's done in California, anyway.)

Check the signature.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by NinerDoug

Trouble I see is: She says, "He gave it to me."

What evidence do you have to prove he didn't?

I would start with the whatever she submitted to the DMV when she changed title and registration. I would imagine that, if your father did in fact give it to her, he would have had to sign off on the title. (That's how it's done in California, anyway.)

Check the signature.

That's just the thing. The only LEGAL document in play here is the title. There are no formal documents stating that he gave her the RV. If she forged his name, she's in trouble. If she didn't forge his name and didn't have some ****ing loophole in the system, then the RV STILL belongs to her father. That would generally place the burden on the "partner" to prove ownership, not on his daughter.

[NinerDoug]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

That's just the thing. The only LEGAL document in play here is the title. There are no formal documents stating that he gave her the RV. If she forged his name, she's in trouble. If she didn't forge his name and didn't have some ****ing loophole in the system, then the RV STILL belongs to her father. That would generally place the burden on the "partner" to prove ownership, not on his daughter.

Right. That's where to start. Maybe she forged his signature and did a poor job. Or maybe he did in fact sign it. Need to see the title.

[Shiver Me Timbers]

Originally Posted by NinerDoug

Trouble I see is: She says, "He gave it to me."

What evidence do you have to prove he didn't?

I would start with the whatever she submitted to the DMV when she changed title and registration. I would imagine that, if your father did in fact give it to her, he would have had to sign off on the title. (That's how it's done in California, anyway.)

Check the signature.

What he said^