Deal with a vehicle in West Virginia
You need to continue regular car payments, maintain vehicle registration, and then transfer the car's ownership. You cannot drive the car unless you have proper registration, and penalties will be charged if this is not done on time.
Vehicle Jointly Titled
A vehicle may be jointly owned. A joint ownership is indicated by an “OR” between vehicle owners on the title. If one party is deceased, the living owner must apply for the certificate of the title. To sign the title into their name, the survivor must sign the back of the title as the seller. Additionally, the living owner must sign as the purchaser and complete the bottom of the title as the purchaser.
If the title is in joint ownership with the word “AND” between owner names on the title, the surviving spouse and the executor, administrator, or legal heir must sign the title on behalf of the deceased owner to remove the deceased’s name from the vehicle title.
Titled to Deceased Only, No Appointed Executor or Administrator
If no will or administrator exists, the legal heir must complete a Legal Heir Affidavit (DMV-185-TR) which allows the heir to sign on behalf of the deceased owner (for purposes of transferring the title of the vehicle). Additionally, the living heir should submit the following to the DMV:
The properly assigned title
The odometer disclosure information
Insurance information
The current registration car for the vehicle being titled
Titled to Deceased Only, Estate Executor or Administrator Has Been Appointed
The named executor or administrator must sign the title on behalf of the seller in order to remove the name of the deceased owner from the vehicle’s title. Additionally, the administrator or executor should submit the following to the DMV:
A certified copy of the court appointment documents for the executor or administrator
The properly assigned title
The odometer disclosure information
Insurance information
The current registration car for the vehicle being titled