Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Missouri

I have a vehicle that still has a lien on it through a bank. I am the owner on the title. My step father co-signed for the loan on it bc I had no credit prior to college graduation. I lost my job and he agreed to help me by making a few car payments as long as I agreed to pay him back. No contract of course, were family. I was paying him back slowly and then he said that he decided that he was no longer going to help me and that the bank had been calling about the loan. I was unaware of this and trusted him to be honest with me. He said that he could no longer help me and that I had to surrender the car to the bank. He came and basically repoed my car and left.

Turns out he's still making payments on it and its now at their house hidden in the garage and he's been trying to sell it to other members of my family and the general public for the $4500 left on the $14,500 original loan. Is there anything illegal about this? He always has a hidden agenda. He has no idea that I know what's going on. Now I know why I'm not allowed to go to their home all of the sudden. I just paid for new tags too. And I know he uses it to commute to work. All of my hard earned money and now he's fooled me into surrendering this car? Please help!!!


Asked on 2/14/13, 2:28 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Anthony Smith LawSmith

It is your car (assuming you are the only purchaser listed on the title) so you have the right to retrieve the vehicle. You might even get the police to help. But, if you cannot afford to make the payments, (to the bank and to yrou stepfather) do you really want the vehicle back, just to see it get repoed by the bank in afew months?

Good luck

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Answered on 2/19/13, 7:53 am


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