Legally Speaking Answers & Questions

October 2

Q: In 2007 I bought a 1998 GMC Jimmy from my son-in-law. I paid him $1,500. He told me he was going to get me the title. Come to find out the title is not in his name at all, it’s in his friend’s name. He and the friend got a loan on the truck after selling me the truck. I did not know because this the first time I paid cash for a car. The place they got the loan now has a lien on the truck. HELP! – Vallery from Spring

A: She could be what the law calls a “bonafide purchaser for value.” She had no knowledge that it was not his car and bought it and paid for it then it should her car and the true owner of her car would have a cause of action against her son-in-law. If there’s a lien on that car from a bank that makes the situation more complicated because the bank would have a claim on that car. The best thing would be for her son-in-law to give her her money back.

Q: I saw a segment about purchasing civil court documents online for 10 cents a copy. Does that include court file documents in the Family Court? And if so, could I please have more information on how to purchase these files? – Richard from Missouri City

A: The Harris County District Clerk is the custodian of the records of the district courts, which include the family courts. You can go online to the Harris County District Court website (http://www.justex.net/) and search by case file, by party name and find the public documents in the court file.

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