Section 9916 Of Chapter 3. Transfer Of Title Or Interest In Undocumented Vessel From California Vehicle Code >> Division 3.5. >> Chapter 3.
9916
. (a) If 40 days have elapsed since the death of an owner or
legal owner of any vessel numbered under this division without the
decedent leaving other property necessitating probate, and
irrespective of the value of the vessel, the following person may
secure a transfer of ownership of the title or interest of the
decedent:
(1) The sole person or all of the persons who succeeded to the
property of the decedent under Sections 6401 and 6402 of the Probate
Code unless the vessel is, by will, otherwise bequeathed.
(2) The sole beneficiary or all of the beneficiaries who succeeded
to the vessel under the will of the decedent where the vessel is, by
will, so bequeathed.
(b) The person authorized by subdivision (a) may secure a transfer
of ownership of the title or interest of the decedent upon
presenting to the department all of the following:
(1) The appropriate certificate of ownership and certificate of
number, if available.
(2) A certificate of the heir or beneficiary under penalty of
perjury containing the following statements:
(A) The date and place of the decedent's death.
(B) The decedent left no other property necessitating probate and
no probate proceeding is now being or has been conducted in this
state for the decedent's estate.
(C) The declarant is entitled to the vessel either (i) as the sole
person or all of the persons who succeeded to the property of the
decedent under Sections 6401 and 6402 of the Probate Code if the
decedent left no will or (ii) as the beneficiary or beneficiaries
under the decedent's last will if the decedent left a will, and no
one has a right to the decedent's vessel that is superior to that of
the declarant.
(D) There are no unsecured creditors of the decedent or, if there
are, the unsecured creditors of the decedent have been paid in full
or their claims have been otherwise discharged.
(3) If required by the department, a certificate of the death of
the decedent.
(4) If required by the department, the names and addresses of any
other heirs or beneficiaries.
(c) If the department is presented with the documents specified in
paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b), no liability shall be
incurred by the department or any officer or employee of the
department by reason of the transfer of registration of the vessel
pursuant to this section. The department or officer or employee of
the department may rely in good faith on the statements in the
certificate specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) and has no
duty to inquire into the truth of any statement in the certificate.
The person who secures the transfer of the vessel pursuant to this
section is subject to the provisions of Section 13109 to 13113,
inclusive, of the Probate Code to the same extent as a person to whom
transfer of property is made under Chapter 3 (commencing with
Section 13100) of Part 1 of Division 8 of the Probate Code.