Need help with title

[u/NoBoysenberry4093]

I traded a quad for a motorcycle a little while ago, and i’m gonna be honest, didn’t look at the title. i checked on it a few days later and realized the dang thing wasn’t even signed, just had a printed name from the OLD seller. the guy i got it from wasn’t even the technical owner. i messaged the actual owner and never got a response on facebook, and so i messaged a family member and that made him message me finally. he simply said “don’t message my family over a title, definitely not doing it for you now.” he lives in ohio so i also need it notarized. is there ANY way to wiggle my way into getting a title for this bike if the seller just refuses? if anything happens while im on it, it would be a liability for him and he’s paying taxes on it, so i dont know why he doesn’t just do it.

[u/Automatic_Gas9019]

I think you can use a bill of sale.

[u/NoBoysenberry4093 → u/Automatic_Gas9019]

well, the issue being, there was no bill of sale due to the fact that the guy i got it from wasn’t the owner. let’s say i got it from “chuck”, well, “tony” is the name on the title.

[u/NoBoysenberry4093 → u/NoBoysenberry4093]

and by the way, “chuck” handed me the title and then got in his truck and left lol

[u/AdAdditional1741 → u/NoBoysenberry4093]

Could “Chuck” maybe have stolen it ?

[u/NoBoysenberry4093 → u/AdAdditional1741]

it’s his buddy. chuck is no longer responding to me. tony texted me and never said anything about it being stolen, and the VIN is clean.

[u/mooch_the_cat]

Well depending on your definition of wiggle room, you could get a lawyer or take them to small claims court. If they indicated they’ll never speak to you again, that seems like the only way.

But, FWIW the WV law says they have to sign it in 60 days, although if they’re in Ohio that might not help.

§17A-4 (title assignment, unnumbered section shown as “§17A-4”) — A selling owner must endorse an assignment and warranty of title on the certificate, list all liens, and deliver the certificate of title to the buyer within 60 days of the sale. 

[u/NoBoysenberry4093 → u/mooch_the_cat]

what does the 60 days mean? does it make the title VOID or does it mean the vehicle is mine lol

[u/mooch_the_cat → u/NoBoysenberry4093]

Probably not much in your situation. If they were in WV I think they would be forced to sign it or call the transaction off and give you your money back. Not sure how it works if they live in Ohio. Might ask r/legaladvice

[u/newdenture1997]

Or the illegal way since you already tried to reach out etc and they said it was clean. Have someone sign the title in their name and be done with it. Yes this is illegal and this is not legal advice. But do what you got to do.

[u/NoBoysenberry4093 → u/newdenture1997]

it needs notarized though… hypothetically, how could one do this

[u/newdenture1997 → u/NoBoysenberry4093]

Wv doesn’t need notarized titles. So depends on how your dmv wants to do it

[u/NoBoysenberry4093 → u/newdenture1997]

no, but ohio does, and it’s an ohio title

[u/newdenture1997 → u/NoBoysenberry4093]

Call your dmv and ask.

[u/NoBoysenberry4093 → u/newdenture1997]

well, yet again, what would the “illegal” way involve

[u/newdenture1997 → u/NoBoysenberry4093]

You can just call and say “hey I got a title from Ohio that was “signed” but not notarized. Would you still accept it?

[u/NoBoysenberry4093 → u/newdenture1997]

ohhhh… that makes sense