AUTO TITLE MANUAL - Franklin County, Ohio

FRANKLIN COUNTY CLERK OF COURTS
AUTO TITLE MANUAL
Upon the death of a married Ohio resident, a surviving spouse can take title to one boat
and/or one outboard motor in the same manner as an automobile.
When transferring a surviving spouse title, only the application portion of the back of the
title needs to be completed. The surviving spouse’s name must be entered as applicant,
lien information must be entered if applicable, the basis for tax exemption should be
entered as “inheritance” and the title must be signed and notarized.
No tax is due. No tax form is required. No odometer statement is required.
A surviving spouse affidavit must be completed, signed and notarized and must
accompany the certificate of title to our office. For sample form, see exhibit "M".
If there is a lien on the decedent’s title that is to be transferred onto the surviving
spouse’s title, a memorandum title should be applied for.
The following probate court documents are issued by the Franklin County Probate Court.
Please be aware that different documents are issued by different Probate Courts
throughout the state. If you have documents from another county that are different from
what is listed below, please contact our office.
Inheritance With Administration
If someone has been appointed as executor of an estate, the estate has “administration.”
The executor is appointed to act on behalf of the deceased party. When transferring a
title, the executor would assign the title to a new owner and the assignment must be
notarized. The title would be completed in the same manner as signing by power of
attorney; however, instead of “power of attorney”, the signature line would read
“executor”. If our office witnesses the executor signing the assignment of title we will
need a copy of the “Letters of Authority”. An executor cannot give someone power of
attorney. Franklin County Probate Court issues a form called “Application for Transfer of
a Motor Vehicle” (Form 9.C) showing to whom the vehicle is to be transferred. This
form must accompany the title to our office.
No tax form or odometer statement is required. For sample form, see exhibit "N".
Inheritance With No Administration
If no one is appointed to act on behalf of the deceased person, it is considered a “no
administration” estate. Probate Court issues an “Entry Relieving the Estate from
Administration” indicating who the vehicle is to be transferred to or, more commonly,
simply stamps Form 9.C with a stamp that reads “NO ADMINISTRATION”. In this
case, the assignment portion of the title does not need to be completed. Only the
application portion of the back of the title must be completed, signed and notarized.
No tax form or odometer statement is required. For sample form, see exhibit "O".
12 FRANKLIN FRANKLIN COUNTY TITLE DIVISION DIVISION CUSTOMER - CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE (614) 525-3090
462-3090