Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New York

Can I own a trailer without a title??

I paid a co worker $1,500.00 over two years ago for a 'old' trailor, that sits in a trailor park. She was unable to give me a title to the trailor..because she herself was never given one when she bought it off the park owner. And he didn't have a title because the trailor was abandoned, and then he took it upon himself to sell it...without a title!! In the two years I lived in the trailor, I looked everwhere to find anything to ID it...no serial numbers, make, model, or year, NOTHING... It is almost as if 'someone' stripped it of its identity. Of all the trailor in the park...'it' was the only one that didn't even have the manufaturer's name on it. My question is...Do I even LEGALLY OWN this trailor? I have NOTHING to show that I'm the OWNER. And I've been told if I wanted to move it (or being how old it 'looks') demmolish it, NO ONE would touch it because I can't prove OWNERSHIP. Is this true? To my knowledge to prove you own something, you need a title, deed, or a bill of sale. I have NOTHING!! Is there anyway to 'get' proof I own it? Or should I print 'IDIOT' on my forhead?


Asked on 10/25/04, 9:54 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys
Leslie Francis Law Office of Leslie L. Francis

Re: Can I own a trailer without a title??

I agree with both Walter and Phroska. Without some evidence of ownership, you can not make a valid claim to being the titleholder or owner of the trailer.

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Answered on 10/27/04, 3:59 pm
Phroska L. McAlister PHROSKA LEAKE McALISTER

Re: Can I own a trailer without a title??

Think automobile. Trailers are vechicles, and are Personal Property, not "Real" Property; and they are subject to the DMV and Personal Property Law.

Also, remember that even when buying a soda you receive a receipt or Proof of purchase, to put the WORLD on notice that you "own," have an interest in it, did not steal it, etc.., and in other words, are "en titled" to have possession of the item. But, Rights, Title or an interest in something, do not have exactly the same meanings.

For example, You can have an "interest" in property yet not hold "title to the property."

In this case, since you don't report a receipt, or proof of payment or purchase, it is unlikely you will be able to prove that you have title or an interest in the trailer, but for a "right" to remain on the premises until removed by "lawful" means, by a "lawful" or "rightful" owner.

Good luck,

Phroska L. McAlister,ESQ

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Answered on 10/26/04, 3:22 pm
Walter LeVine Walter D. LeVine, Esq.

Re: Can I own a trailer without a title??

I concur with Phroska that you cannot own anything without some proof of purchase. If the trailer park owner will give you a "Bill of Sale", even if some glib document obtained from a stationery store, and even if only described as being the vacated trailer currently located on padXXX, with some general description, this might suffice. Without other information, you cannot even go to DMV to try to get information.

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Answered on 10/26/04, 4:07 pm


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