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  • How do I apply for title if the owner is deceased?
View All Title Applications, Titles FAQs

How do I apply for title if the owner is deceased?

If transfer involves a deceased owner and owner’s estate has been or will be probated, then the individual signing on behalf of deceased owner’s estate must provide copy of letters testamentary or letters of administration issued by the probate court.

If transfer involves a deceased owner and owner’s estate has not and will not be probated, then the individual signing on behalf of deceased owner’s estate must provide a Next of Kin Affidavit (MVT 5-6) and a copy of the deceased owner’s death certificate.

See Administrative Rule: 810-5-75-.09 Transfer of Title For A Vehicle From A Deceased Owner, for more details.

If transfer involves a deceased owner and owner’s estate has been or will be probated, then the individual signing on behalf of deceased owner’s estate must provide copy of letters testamentary or letters of administration issued by the probate court.

If transfer involves a deceased owner and owner’s estate has not and will not be probated, then the individual signing on behalf of deceased owner’s estate must provide a Next of Kin Affidavit (MVT 5-6) and a copy of the deceased owner’s death certificate.

See Administrative Rule: 810-5-75-.09 Transfer of Title For A Vehicle From A Deceased Owner, for more details.

Related FAQs in Title Applications, Titles

ALDOR’s titling system, ALVIN, features a VIN decoder that populates this information.

However, there will be occasion where it will not be pre-populated. Sometimes it will populate the information after a vehicle trim is selected.

It is recommended to look up the vehicle year, make, model, and specifications in a Google-type search to see if you are able to find the unladen weight or GVWR.

Another alternative is the NHTSA VIN decoder (https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/decoder/). It will sometimes provide this information for vehicles.

If all else fails and you still can’t determine the unladen weight, then you can enter the same amount as was entered or pre-populated for the GVWR.

No, the lienholder information is not required in the assignment of the MSO or title, but if it is provided it must agree with the title application.

The odometer reading is not required to be recorded in the assignment of an MSO. However, if the odometer reading is provided in the assignment of the MSO the odometer reading on the title application must be equal to or progressive with the odometer reading in the assignment, unless the vehicle is exempt from mileage. The odometer disclosure section of an MSO or out of state title is not required, by the state of Alabama, to be completed. The odometer reading on all other transfers with a certificate of title require the mileage to be certified, therefore, the mileage on the application must agree exactly with the mileage listed in the title assignment on all other transfers.
Yes, the owner(s) and/or an authorized representative of the firm must sign and date his/her legal signature on the title application.
Yes. The owner name(s) on the title application must be identical to the owner name(s) in the assignment of the MSO, title or any other supporting document. This includes suffixes (Jr., III, etc.). If there is a variance in the owner’s name between the application and the assignment an affidavit attesting to the variance in the name may be provided.

If there is joint-ownership and the names are joined by “or,” only one owner is required to sign the title application.

If there is joint-ownership and the names are joined by “and,” then both owners are required to sign the title application.