Illinois Registration Woes

[marineratheart]

Alright, so I'll bet most of you at some point or another have encountered personally or witnessed the stuggle of registering a boat that has any form of incomplete paper work/transfers in Illinois. I ask that you might help me in getting my Rhodes, which I have put so much hard work into restoring to a sailable condition, registered and back out on the water where she belongs!

The Situation: I recieved this boat and title as a gift from a friend's grandfather (Dirk) this past winter. When I looked at the paperwork, I saw that the boat had not been registered since 1998 by the owner (who I will refer to as Marcia) before "Dirk." Marcia has been deceased since 2009. In addition, the paperwork for the transfer is incomplete except for the signiture of seller (Marcia).

So Does anyone have any experiance in this sort of situation and, if so, could you help me, PLEASE

I talked to the IDNR, They said that a letter of Explaination from the owner before me (Dirk), the title, Watercraft Application, and Tax Form will be sufficient to get things in order.

Is it really that simple? or are they greatly understating the amount of hassel that will go into this?

Again, any help from an Illinois resident would be greatly appreciated!

Mariner At Heart

 

[Stu Jackson]

I'm confused.

They told you: I talked to the IDNR, They said that a letter of Explaination from the owner before me (Dirk), the title, Watercraft Application, and Tax Form will be sufficient to get things in order.

Why not try it and see if it works?

 

[toddco]

Mariner,
I walked the same rocky path. We bought an Oday 20 on Ebay from a charity auction organization. The boat was originally titled in Washington State, donated to the Boy Scouts, sold to a guy in Oregon, and then hauled to St. Louis Mo. The owner in St. Louis did not complete the title transfer when in Oregon. It took me six months, but I finally got a clear title in Illinois.
It sounds like you have a clear title from "Marcia". She had signed off of any claim of ownership. You just need to document from "Marcia" to you. Dirk was responsible for personal property tax (due within 30 days from his getting the boat), that was not paid on the tranfer to him. If Dirk did not sign the title, then I think you could transfer the title directly to you. There maybe a small penalty on the late tax, but that is based on the value of the boat before you started rebuilding. I had the best result by driving to Springfield and talking with IDNR. I also had enough documentation to choke two horses and a small pony.

Good Luck!

Toddco

 

[Golden Road]

Ever since I turned 16 the Motor Vehicle Depts have been my enemy. fight on!

 

[ruidh]

I had one of these multiple transfers with incomplete paperwork. I told the NY DMV I didn't have a bill of sale and paid property tax on the assumed value.