Puerto Rico - daughter's break=up

Last activity 28 February 2013 by LaLaLives

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mommajuliaMember26 February 2013 23:01:58

Hello. New here. Daughter in Mayaguez, PR for Grad School. Went down with boyfriend. They broke up and he's now holding her car hostage. She holds the title, but he won't return it. I've told her to go to the authorities, but she won't. The title to the car is in the glove box. I'm scared he's going to ruin the car and/or sell it for scrap. If it's involved in an accident, I assume she's liable, even though she doesn't have possession of it?

Any thoughts?

ArmandViP27 February 2013 08:19:20

24785

Hi and welcome to Expat.com mommajulia!

Your post has been moved to the Puerto Rico forum for better visibility.
I hope the other members will be able to advise you.

Good luck
Armand

LaLaLivesMember28 February 2013 01:17:36

Hi MommaJulia and welcome to the forum. Aside from liability, I'm not sure what your question is. Concerning liability, yes, a portion of it falls on her if he is involved in an accident with the car.

As for the rest, she basically has two choices...well, three actually:

1. Call the authorities and report the car stolen and by whom.

2. Let the chips fall where they may and hope that he returns the car intact.

3. Take the law into her own hands and send some bigger/badder guys to get the car, which may land her in a lot of hot water depending upon how "extreme" their handling of the situation is. I don't recommend this approach at all, by the way, but am just pointing out how few options she has and, hopefully, illustrating the only one that makes real sense (i.e. #1).

In the end, your daughter is a grown woman and, unless your name is on the car's title, I'm afraid you're going to have to let her work this one out on her own.

Sorry, mama...as a mother myself, I know we want to step in and solve situations like these, but when our hands are tied, we have to learn to accept that they're adults and that they'll either make smart decisions or learn hard truths (which will hopefully make them wiser).

Just remember, this too shall pass.

NomadLawyerSerial expat28 February 2013 14:50:12

693

@LaLaLives:

Don't mean to bust your chops, but what do you base your opinion that the title holder is partially liable if the car is in an accident? Are you sure that's the law in Puerto Rico?

LaLaLivesMember28 February 2013 15:53:58

No, I'm not sure, but I base my reply on having witnessed other cases where a car was not reported stolen and was involved in an accident and the owner sued. I could be wrong, but at the very least it is something to consider.

No worries about busting my chops, they're not too fragile, lol.

What is your advice for the OP?

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