Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes 342.17

  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Following: when used by way of reference to any statute section, means the section next following that in which the reference is made. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Person: includes all partnerships, associations and bodies politic or corporate. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Personal representative: means a person, however denominated, who is authorized to administer a decedent's estate. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Property: includes real and personal property. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • State: when applied to states of the United States, includes the District of Columbia, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the several territories organized by Congress. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
   (1)    If the interest of an owner in a vehicle passes to another other than by voluntary transfer, the transferee shall, except as provided in sub. (2), promptly mail or deliver to the department the last certificate of title, if available, and the documents required by the department to legally effect such transfer, and an application for a new certificate in the form the department prescribes.
   (2)   If the interest of the owner is terminated or the vehicle is sold under a security agreement by a secured party named in the certificate of title, the transferee shall promptly mail or deliver to the department the last certificate of title, an application for a new certificate in the form the department prescribes, and a statement made by or on behalf of the secured party that the vehicle was repossessed and that the interest of the owner was lawfully terminated or sold pursuant to the terms of the security agreement.
   (3)   A person holding a certificate of title whose interest in the vehicle has been extinguished or transferred other than by voluntary transfer shall mail or deliver the certificate to the department upon request of the department. The delivery of the certificate pursuant to the request of the department does not affect the rights of the person surrendering the certificate, and the action of the department in issuing a new certificate of title as provided herein is not conclusive upon the rights of an owner or secured party named in the old certificate.
   (4)   
      (a)    In all cases of the transfer of a vehicle owned by a decedent, except under par. (b), ward, trustee or bankrupt, the department shall accept as sufficient evidence of the transfer of ownership the following:
         1.    Evidence satisfactory to the department of the issuance of the letters testamentary or other letters authorizing the administration of an estate, letters of guardianship, or letters of trust, or of the appointment of the trustee in bankruptcy;
         2.    The title executed by the personal representative, guardian, or trustee; and
         3.    The evidence concerning payment of sales or use taxes required by s. 77.61 (1) or evidence that the transfer is exempt from such taxes.
      (b)   
         1.    The department shall transfer the decedent’s interest in any vehicle to his or her surviving spouse or domestic partner under ch. 770 upon receipt of the title executed by the surviving spouse or domestic partner and a statement by the spouse or domestic partner which shall state:
            a.    The date of death of the decedent;
            b.    The approximate value and description of the vehicle; and
            c.    That the spouse or domestic partner is personally liable for the decedent’s debts and charges to the extent of the value of the vehicle, subject to s. 859.25.
         2.    The transfer shall not affect any liens upon the vehicle.
         3.    Except as provided in subd. 4., this paragraph is limited to no more than 5 vehicles titled in this state that are less than 20 years old at the time of the transfer under this paragraph. There is no limit on transfer under this paragraph of vehicles titled in this state that are 20 or more years old at the time of transfer under this paragraph.
         4.    The limit in subd. 3. does not apply if the surviving spouse or domestic partner is proceeding under s. 867.03 (1g) and the total value of the decedent’s property subject to administration in the state, including the vehicles transferred under this paragraph, does not exceed $50,000.
      (c)    Upon compliance with this subsection neither the secretary nor the department shall bear any liability or responsibility for the transfer of such vehicles in accordance with this section.
      (d)    This subsection does not apply to transfer of interest in a vehicle under s. 342.15 (1) (d).

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