When you own a boat, it is critical to ensure all the required documentation is in place. This comes with an abstract of title, which demonstrates that you are the legitimate owner of the vessel and gives you ownership rights. An abstract of title is a legal document that details the previous owners of a particular vessel at various points in time. An abstract of title will be necessary for the event that you need to sell your boat or demonstrate that you are the legitimate owner of the vessel. In this piece on the blog, we’ll go through how boat owners might profit from obtaining an abstract of title. In addition to that, we will provide you with the information you need to get one for your yacht. Continue reading this article if you are unsure about whether or not an abstract of title will be beneficial for you. The following are some of how abstract of title might be helpful for USCG boat owners:
It Serves as Proof of Ownership
An abstract of title is a legal document that details the previous owners of a particular piece of real estate and the information they had about that property. Because it is the official record of the history of your boat, boat owners are likely to be acquainted with anything similar to this. If you own a boat, you should be familiar with something like this. It reveals the previous owners of the vessel, the kinds of modifications that have been made to the title, and any liens or claims that have been filed against it. Keep reading for some information on how the abstract of title may be valuable for USCG boat owners, especially if you’ve never looked at an abstract before and aren’t sure what to anticipate or expect from it.
It Helps Resolve Disputes Over Ownership
Having an abstract of title that shows that you are the legal owner of the boat or its contents is extremely helpful in the event of a claim against it. In a dispute over ownership, an abstract of title can help resolve the issue because it contains information about the boat’s history, including every time it changed hands (even if no money was exchanged). For example, if your friend sold you his boat back in college and now wants it back, an abstract of title will show that he sold the boat to you, signed over all rights and that there are no other liens or claims on it. The title to a boat is like a deed to your home. To register or insure your boat, you must show that you own it; you need proof of ownership when applying for a mortgage.
It Proves the Chain of Possession
The chain of ownership for your yacht is one of the most crucial things to keep track of as a vessel owner. To receive insurance for your boat or to register it with the US Coast Guard, you will need to fill out a lot of paperwork, and you’ll also have to do so when you purchase or sell a vessel. Any above can only be done if you can establish a chain of ownership. This is precisely what you need: an abstract of the title! In the case of a boat, an abstract of title is a document that reveals who has owned it and how it was acquired. It’s essential to know everything from when and where they were acquired to how they were most recently moved. In the event of a deceased owner, the abstract of title should indicate the new owner. There should be a record of who purchased the yacht and when it was sold by someone else. In order to prove that you own your boat and that you did not steal it, this information is essential!
An Abstract of Title Establishes Priority of Ownership
It’s a document that outlines the ownership of a boat by recording all of its previous owners, and it is called an abstract of title. Anyone who owns a boat may benefit from it. Still, those who own boats that are part of a more extensive fleet (such as a houseboat owned by a rental firm) or who have other people interested in their boat will find it extremely valuable (for example, if you are married and your spouse has an interest in your boat). You may get a detailed look at how the boat’s ownership has changed over time by looking through its title abstract.
It keeps track of prior boat owners, their names, the dates on which they bought the vessel, and the identity of the present owner and any partners or spouses. It also includes information on any current legal issues involving the yacht and any mortgages or liens against the boat. Additionally, an abstract of title may reveal any property encumbrances, such as zoning difficulties, seaworthiness concerns, or even land encroachment conflicts between neighbors that may restrict the property’s availability.
Now that you know how the abstract of title is helpful to your business contact the Maritime Documentation Center today at (800) 535-8570 to get started. Speak with one of our vessel registration experts, and they can guide you through the entire process. We look forward to working with you!