Detailed Answer — step-by-step process

When a parent dies, transferring title to their car depends on how the vehicle was titled, whether a probate estate is opened, and whether any liens or beneficiary designations exist. Below are the common scenarios and the general steps you will follow in Kentucky.

1) Identify how the vehicle is titled

• If the vehicle was titled in the decedent’s name alone, the vehicle becomes part of the decedent’s estate and usually must be transferred through the probate process or by a proper affidavit or court order.
• If the title lists a co-owner (for example, joint tenants with right of survivorship), the surviving co-owner generally has the right to the vehicle and can retitle it by presenting the title and the decedent’s death certificate to the county clerk.
• If a Transfer-on-Death (TOD) or beneficiary designation was properly recorded on the title, the named beneficiary can take ownership by presenting the death certificate and any required transfer forms to the county clerk.

2) Gather the key documents

Typical documents you will need (vary by county and situation):

• Certified copy of the decedent’s death certificate.
• The current vehicle title (the original, if available).
• Proof of identity for the person requesting the transfer (your driver’s license or other ID).
• If the estate is probated: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (issued by the probate court) showing the personal representative’s authority.
• If no probate but small estate procedures apply: completed small-estate affidavit forms (see local probate court rules).
• If the vehicle has a lien: a lien release from the lienholder or documentation showing the lienholder’s consent to transfer.
• Any odometer disclosure or other title forms required by the Kentucky county clerk.

3) Determine whether probate is required

Many vehicles transfer without full probate if the title names a surviving owner or beneficiary. If the decedent owned the vehicle outright and no beneficiary or co-owner exists, the vehicle is an asset of the estate. Transferring that vehicle usually requires either:

• A personal representative (executor/administrator) to sign the title using authority from the probate court (Letters); or
• Using an available small-estate affidavit or other statutory summary procedure if Kentucky law and the county permit it for transfers of personal property below a certain value—check the local probate court procedures.

4) Visit the county clerk’s office that handles vehicle titles

Kentucky vehicle titles and registrations are handled by your county clerk. Bring the documents listed above. The clerk will tell you which forms Kentucky requires for the type of transfer you need (probate-based transfer, surviving co-owner, TOD, or small-estate affidavit).

5) Complete title assignment and pay fees and taxes

The person transferring title must complete any assignment sections on the certificate of title (the personal representative signs if estate property). Expect to pay title transfer fees, registration fees (if you register the vehicle), and any applicable motor vehicle usage or sales tax. The county clerk can provide current fee and tax information.

6) Deal with outstanding liens

If there is a lien on the vehicle, obtain a lien release from the lender. A lien must be cleared or a new lien recorded for the new owner to obtain a clean title.

7) When probate is necessary

If probate is required, the executor or administrator should:

1. Open probate in the appropriate Kentucky probate court (county where the decedent lived).
2. Obtain Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court.
3. Use those letters to sign the title and transfer the vehicle to the rightful beneficiary or to sell it as part of estate administration.

Useful official resources

• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet — Vehicle Services and title information: https://drive.ky.gov/Vehicle-Services/Pages/default.aspx
• Kentucky Court of Justice — Probate and self-help information (including small estate guidance and forms): https://courts.ky.gov/selfhelp/Pages/Probate.aspx
• Kentucky General Assembly — main statutes portal (search for probate, intestacy, and motor vehicle statutes): https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/

Because specific requirements and forms can vary by county and by the facts of the case, start by calling or visiting your local county clerk’s office and the local probate court clerk. They will list the exact documents and forms required for your situation.

Helpful Hints

• Check the actual title first. The easiest path is a surviving co-owner or a recorded beneficiary. If the title already names another owner, the transfer is usually quick.
• Get multiple certified death certificates. County clerks and other agencies will ask for certified copies; plan for several copies so you do not delay transfers.
• If the vehicle has a lien, contact the lender early. The lender’s payoff or release will be necessary before a new clean title issues.
• Bring the original title whenever possible. If the title is lost, the county clerk can advise you on how to get a replacement before transferring.
• Do not sign a title before you know whether you should sign as an individual, as a beneficiary, or as the personal representative. The county clerk can tell you how to sign based on your role.
• Expect fees and possible taxes. Ask the county clerk for a fee estimate so you know what to bring.
• If the estate is sizable or the ownership is disputed, consult an attorney experienced in Kentucky probate and estate administration to avoid mistakes that could cause personal liability.
• If you have questions about the statute or a contested situation, use the Kentucky statutes portal to search for the relevant probate and motor vehicle laws or consult a local attorney: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/