Small Claims Dispute Over Vehicle Ownership With an Ex-Partner

Attorney Answer

If the car's certificate of title is solely in your name and there's no side agreement saying otherwise, Ohio law makes that title strong evidence you're the legal owner — but you still need to show up and prove it in court.

Ohio Revised Code section 4505.04 provides that a buyer gets no ownership interest in a vehicle until a certificate of title is issued or assigned to them, and courts generally won't recognize an ownership claim not backed by a certificate of title. If the title lists only your name and there was no agreement giving your ex-boyfriend an interest, this statute supports your position. That said, a certificate of title is presumptive evidence of ownership, not automatically conclusive — if a side agreement existed, or he made payments toward the car, that could complicate things, though he would still bear the burden of proving it.

What you can do:

1. Check your summons or court notice immediately for the deadline to respond and the hearing date — missing either can result in a default judgment regardless of who owns the car.

2. File any required response by that deadline and plan to appear at the hearing.

3. Bring the certificate of title, insurance records, and any payment records to the hearing as evidence of ownership.

4. Be ready to address directly any agreement or payment arrangement with your ex-boyfriend, rather than assume the title alone resolves the case.

⏱ Time limits apply. This is an active small claims case with a scheduled court date; missing the response deadline or hearing listed on your summons risks a default judgment regardless of the ownership merits, so confirm these dates with a local attorney right away.