Tips on Buying Cars: car bought from person filing bankruptcy, filing bankruptcy, creditors

Question
Jeremy,
I live in MO.  I bought a car and paid cash for that car.  I have the title in my name for that same car.  

Now the person who I bought the car from is filing bankruptcy.  He or the creditors are now trying to take that care back from me.  What do I do?  Does the car belong to me or to him?

Answer
Alberto,

Thanks for your question.  If you have the title, you are the owner, UNLESS the owner had a lien on the vehicle and did not pay it off.  If that is the case, then the seller broke FEDERAL LAW, and should have charges against him.  I would talk to his creditors and explain that you purchased the vehicle from him for cash, hopefully you have documents to back that up, a cleared check, etc, and ask if the seller had a lien on the car that they did not pay off.  

The car should legally belong to you, unless the above scenario has played out, and then the seller is in a whole lot more trouble than just filing bankruptcy.

Hope this helps a little.

Thanks - JB