Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

If there is no will, a vehicle is owned by two unmarried people, both names on the registration and one of the people dies. Does the vehicle automatically go to the surviving co-owner?


Asked on 2/14/10, 11:56 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Aaron Feldman Feldman Law Group

Unless it was owned in "joint" tenancy, then one-half of the vehicle is owned by the Estate for the person who died. Without a will it would pass to the "intestate" heirs, which is a statutory system of deciding who inherits when there is no will.

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Answered on 2/19/10, 1:46 pm
Michele Cusack Pollak & Cusack

that's technically correct but I think it would pretty unusual for a car to be owned by two people as tenants in common. If the title says " Decedent or Survivor " the car belongs to the surviving owner

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Answered on 2/19/10, 4:34 pm


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