Long story short, my dad stores a few boats and cars in the barn for cheap, I don't think he has created an actual company.

He has a client who he hasn't heard from in over 3 years, no response from letters, phone number is disconnected. He's at the point where he is wondering about how he can force the title and registration of the boat and trailer into his name so that he can sell it to cover his losses. The boats value is probably about what is owed on storage fees.

He has a simple contract that lists the clients name address phone etc along with the monthly rate and states that failure to pay will result in collection by whatever state statute allows or something.

Is this something that has to go to court or can he simply go to the deputy registrar and force the title into his name somehow?  

My dad has no use for the boat but I do. Hence my interest in the matter lol.

IANAL, but I'd guess he would have to go through a certain effort to find the client.

Else 'No Proof of Ownership' title transfer?
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/Pages/dvs-content-detail.aspx?pageID=638&pageTitle=Title-%20Vehicle-Transfer-%20No%20Proof%20of%20Ownership

I have a friend in which their family owns a car repair shop in Iowa. On occasion extra cars get parked there. I believe they notify the sheriff/police and then they have to wait a set amount of time and then they either resell it or have it hauled to the scrap yard.

i've done motorcycle titles in south dakota and wisconsin. i called the MN DMV a couple months ago about another bike
the lady i spoke with made it sound a bit more convoluted but here's generally how it works in Wisconsin (although it's possible i have a couple steps out of order)


1. get possession of the vehicle

1a. find out if it's listed as stolen

2. document how you obtained the vehicle

3. contact the DMV and ask about appropriate paperwork (in WI we can now download the paperwork, but i forget the form number)

4. fill out the paperwork

5. have a Law Enforcement Officer look at the vehicle, and sign paperwork indicating the VIN(s) match your paperwork

6. contact an insurance company and get a surety bond. basically that's an insurance policy (usually costs around $100) in case the legal owner ever comes back

7. submit paperwork with surety bond to DMV and get your title