AFFIDAVIT OF SURVIVING SPOUSE SECRETARY OF STATE
OR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES
(Requires Notary or Attorney’s signature) ',9,6,212) 7,7/(6(59,&(6
The undersigned certifies that ____________________________________________________ Date of Birth _______________, the owner of a
Name of deceased owner
___________ _______________ ____________________________________________________________, died ___________________.
Year Make Vehicle Identification Number Date
I/we further certify: (check appropriate items)
I am the surviving spouse of the deceased.
I have been appointed Personal Representative of the deceased’s estate by the Probate Court.
Attach a copy of the court appointment to this form.
I am the surviving joint owner of the vehicle. (“Joint ownership” is specified on the title.)
NOTE: The following statements are valid for the transfer of a vehicle only if there is no surviving spouse, no surviving
joint owner and no personal representative appointed by Probate Court; and a statement from Probate Court indicating
no will has been probated accompanies this form.
I am the surviving common owner. (The vehicle title does not state “joint ownership”).
I am an heir of the deceased.
Please state your family relation with the deceased here: □ Child □ Parent □ Sibling □ Other ________________________.
Are there other persons living who had the same family relation with the deceased? yes no
I/we claim the deceased’s interest in the vehicle. Attach reasons for your claim to this form.
The deceased DID DID NOT leave a will.
If a will provides for transfer of the vehicle, please indicate to whom ______________________________________________________.
Check the appropriate item:
I/we will title this vehicle in my/our name(s).
I/we intend to transfer the vehicle described above to _______________________________________________________________.
Transfer must be accomplished on reverse of the title to this vehicle or use transfer form MVT-16.
________________________ ________________________________________________________
Date Signature of Survivor or Personal Representative
THIS FORM MUST BE NOTARIZED
Before me personally appeared ___________________________________________________who by me being duly sworn upon oath, says
that the statement set forth above is true and correct.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this ____________________day of _____________________________, 20 ______. Notary Public for
_____________________________________County, State of _____________________________.
________________________________________________________
Signature of Notary or Attorney
SECTION A
SECTION B
NOTARIZATION
101 Hospital Street, #29 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333
MVT-22 Rev. 9-2021 Tel. (207) 624-9000 ext. 52138 TTY Users call Maine Relay 711
INSTRUCTIONS
In order to comply with the requirements of 29-A MRSA Chapter 7 and Chapter 102 of the Rules of the Secretary of State, certain steps
must be followed and documents provided in order to title a vehicle in the event of the death of an owner. Please follow the applicable
instructions below.
FOR SURVIVING SPOUSE
A surviving spouse may title the vehicle in his or her name only by submitting a title application in the spouse’s name (no
fee is required if at the time of death, the deceased was a Maine resident and the vehicle was registered and titled in
Maine), the vehicle’s title, and this form completed by the spouse. If the vehicle was financed, the spouse must submit a
lien release or obtain consent from the lien holder to title in the spouse’s name (form MVT-27).
If a surviving spouse sells the vehicle, the spouse should provide the buyer with the title transferred to the buyer, a release
of any lien and this form completed by the spouse.
INFORMATION CONCERNING JOINT OR COMMON OWNERSHIP OF A VEHICLE
Under the terms of “joint” ownership, when a joint owner dies the surviving owner(s) retains complete ownership of the
vehicle. In the case of common ownership, if one of the common owners dies, the surviving common owner(s) and the
deceased’s estate own equal shares of the vehicle.
FOR JOINT OWNERS (Title states “joint ownership”)
A surviving joint owner may title the vehicle in his or her name by submitting a title application in the survivor’s name, the
title fee, the vehicle’s title and a copy of the deceased’s death certificate or this form completed by the survivor. If the
vehicle was financed, the survivor must submit a lien release or obtain consent from the lien holder to title in the survivor’s
name alone. (form MVT-27)
If a surviving joint owner sells the vehicle, the survivor should provide the buyer with the title transferred to the buyer, a
release of any lien and a copy of the deceased’s death certificate or this form completed by the survivor.
FOR OWNERS IN COMMON OTHER THAN SPOUSES (There are two or more names listed on the title as owners
and the title does not state joint ownership.)
A surviving common owner may title the vehicle in his or her name by submitting a title application in the survivor’s
name, the title fee, the vehicle’s title, this form completed by the Personal Representative of the deceased and a transfer of
ownership from the Personal Representative (a copy of the Probate Court appointment must be attached). If there is no
court appointed Personal Representative, the survivor must submit a letter from Probate Court stating there is no will of the
deceased’s being probated and a transfer to the survivor from all immediate heirs of the deceased. In addition, any lien
holder must release the lien or provide consent to title the vehicle in the survivor’s name alone. (form MVT-27)
If a surviving common owner sells the vehicle, the survivor must provide the buyer with all material as listed in the
paragraph above except the title application and fee, as well as a transfer from the survivor to the buyer.
FOR PERSONS PURCHASING A VEHICLE FROM A DECEASED INDIVIDUAL’S ESTATE
A person purchasing a vehicle from an estate must obtain the title to the vehicle transferred by the Personal Representative
of the estate and a copy of the Personal Representative’s appointment from Probate Court. If there is no Personal
Representative appointed by Probate Court, the buyer must obtain a transfer from all immediate heirs of the deceased and
this form must be signed by all immediate heirs with a statement from the court that no will is being probated.
101 Hospital Street, #29 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333
MVT-22 Rev. 9-2021 Tel. (207) 624-9000 ext. 52138 TTY Users call Maine Relay 711
