Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Georgia
I am a co applicant on 2 auto loans with a former girlfriend. Our names both appear on the titles. She has decided since our breakup that because her name appears first she has the right to both vehicles. I have been informed that she doesn,t have that right because we are considered co-owners. What are my rights in this situation?
2 Answers from Attorneys
You asked the same question with different facts in two posts. Since you keep changing the facts to get a different answer, you won't get an answer.
The order of the names has nothing to do with who owns the car. So the ex-girlfriend does not get the cars just because her name is first and she is full of BS if she believes or tells you otherwise.
Fact is that you both own both cars. This was very very stupid to buy vehicles with her and not be married. I am willing to bet that you did not have some type of agreement, akin to a marital settlement agreement, which would address who gets what in the event of a dissolution of the relationship.
You and she need to sit down and decide who will get the vehicles. The simplest thing is that you split them - she gets one and you get the other and you each sign the title and release your interest in each other's vehicle. This is going to be problematic if the cars are not paid for yet. In that case, you will have to discuss this with the lender to see if they will finance the remaining balance just in your single names and release the title to the DMV so that it can be recorded.
If you cannot agree, you could partition the cars, but it does not justify the expense.
On the bright side, your ex-girlfriend can't sell or trade the cars (legally - nothing stops her from forging your name) without your signature on the title.
The bad news is that your name is on the loans also and if, she stops paying or pays late, this is going to affect YOUR credit.