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Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A. Motor Vehicles § 655. Missing ownership documents or assignments

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

1. Application for certificate. The owner of a vehicle who is unable to obtain a certificate of origin, certificate of title, certificate of salvage or an assignment of these documents showing sale to the owner may file with the Secretary of State an application for a certificate in the owner's name. The application must be accompanied by the required fee.

2. Evidence. The owner shall provide evidence that:

A. The applicant is the true owner of the vehicle;

B. There are no prior outstanding liens against the vehicle; and

C. The applicant has been unsuccessful in an attempt to have the certificate or other documents transferred or assigned because the prior owner can not  1 be located, has ignored the request or refuses to transfer or assign the documents to the applicant.

3. Review of application and evidence. The Secretary of State shall review the application, examine the evidence and investigate the ownership of the vehicle. As part of that investigation, the Secretary of State shall:

A. Request the prior owner or holder of the certificate or other document to remit the document to the Secretary of State or make the necessary assignments; or

B. Notify the prior owner, at the prior owner's last known address, of the Secretary of State's intent to issue a certificate of title or a certificate of salvage to the new owner.

4. Issuance of certificate of title or certificate of salvage to new owner. The Secretary of State shall issue a certificate of title or certificate of salvage to the new owner:

A. If the prior owner or holder of the document remits the document and properly assigns it to the new owner; or

B. When the prior owner or holder fails to provide the document or make the necessary assignment, if:

(1) The prior owner or holder does not contest, within 15 days of receiving notice, the intent to issue a certificate to the new owner;

(2) There is satisfactory proof of ownership; and

(3) The certificate includes the statement: “This certificate may be subject to the rights of a prior owner.”

5. Delivery. The certificate of title or certificate of salvage must be sent to the owner named on the certificate. If a lienholder is named on the certificate, the Secretary of State shall send a certificate of title or certificate of salvage to the first named lienholder.

6. Ordinary certificate. If the Secretary of State does not receive a notice of interest of a prior owner within 6 months from the issuance of the certificate, the holder may be issued a certificate in ordinary form to replace the one issued as described in subsection 4, paragraph B, subparagraph (3).

1 So in original.
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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A. Motor Vehicles § 655. Missing ownership documents or assignments - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/me/title-29-a-motor-vehicles/me-rev-st-tit-29-a-sect-655/

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