My fiance died, who owns the boat?

[socaldmax]

I'm glad to hear you got to keep the boat, suem. My personal opinion was, since you paid for it, it was yours to begin with, but that's not a legal opinion.

[David_Old_Jersey]

I would also keep copies of all bills paid since the death......on the off chance someone does try to claim ownership they would also get the bills or half of them. With boats time will soon make those add up to being unattractive!!

[valhalla360]

Sorry for your loss and glad to hear you got some professional advice that gave you a good answer.


The ideas many people suggested of fraudulently changing the bill of sale or hiding the boat from the heirs is trouble waiting to happen. If the heirs or court finds out about these actions, they will assume everything you tell them is a lie and have a strong tendency to rule against you as much as the law allows.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

I am very sorry for your loss, but honestly, this is not the time to be getting your advice from a bunch of strangers on an internet forum. You need to talk to a lawyer. Internet legal advice is worth exactly what you pay for it... Nothing!

That said, I would probably (as someone else suggested) treat it like it is mine. Maybe even move it somewhere else. Get started on converting the title to your name only (you probably need a lawyer's help for that, too).

Good luck, and my deepest sympathies.

+1. Discuss with an attorney before doing anything else. Not the executor (if one is appointed). The executor is acting on behalf of the estate, NOT YOU.

As my attorney father used to say...."free legal advice is worth exactly what you paid for it".

[duefocena]

In my experience an original death certificate will be needed to transfer the boat into your name. I assume you have registered the boat? How is it worded? There are two different wordings that can designate transfer ability here. I'll give both examples:
Name/s on title:
Andrew Smith AND Betty Jones
or:
Andrew Smith OR Betty Jones

The latter allows for one of the parties to transfer title without the notice or signature of the other

The former requires signatures of both designated by the inclusion "AND".

If both are required and one is deceased an original certificate of death ( available many times online) can be required for the surviving party to take sole ownership.
As suggested many times here, find an attorney, legal aid service etc.

[savoir]

The boat isn't registered.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by savoir

The boat isn't registered.

Yes.

And in any event in the UK boat registration does not automatically give title.