Do you have joint car titles? (MD)

[Anonymous]

We have two cars ( fully paid) - each spouse has one car title under their name.

I was looking into things to avoid MD probate process, in case one of us passes ( we are currently in good health and in our early 50s). The joint car titles is one thing that can help avoid Probate.

Do most of the couples in MD have joint titles and would you recommend it? The process appears to be simple to add my spouse to the title of my car and vice versa.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

OP again- or do people add beneficiary on vehicle title?

[Anonymous]

Somehow, my car has both our names and DH's car only has his name. When I brought it up, he played dumb. I am in the market for a new car in the next year, and he is not invited to join me when I make the purchase.

[Anonymous]

Ours are not, but in maryland where there is a pretty cumbersome probate, it's not a bad idea, or do it when you get your next car.

[Anonymous]

We have done both. When you go to sell and the title has both names, both of you must go to the dealer to sign off on the vehicle you are selling.

No beneficiaries on a vehicle. The vehicle would be under the estate.

[Anonymous]

I would switch it. It was a pain for my mom to sell my dad’s car when he passed since she wasn’t on the title. My husband and I have since made sure that our titles are joint.

[Anonymous]

We have joint car titles. It is true that both must sign off on the vehicle you are selling. But we think the benefit is worth it in case one of us passes.

[Anonymous]

We have always had joint titles on all cars purchased during the marriage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have always had joint titles on all cars purchased during the marriage.

+1. What happens to cars is critical for everyday life. And they are not usually a big proportion of your assets. We've always arranged for joint title right at purchase. It's never been an inconvenience.

[Anonymous]

We have trusts set up to deal with all of our assets, hopefully including cars. Right now are cars are not titled jointly.

[Anonymous]

Our cars are titled in the name of the family trust.

[Anonymous]

My car is mine, and DH's is his. It never occurred to us to put the other on the title. I see how it might make sense for estate planning purposes though. But we are both lawyers and can handle that whether on the title or not. So probably won't bother with putting both on the titles when we get new cars (which is rare, my DH's car is 18 yrs old and mine is 7).