Our Attorney page contains Coast Guard vessel documentation and state
level boat registration information, articles, and other items of
special interest for attorneys and law firms. It also serves as a
gateway to our complete selection of attorney support services, forms,
databases, and guidelines.
Please
contact us for
additional information on how you can benefit from this exclusive
gathering of vessel documentation and boat registration resources. You
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●
Free Advisory Service
- A free online service for attorneys seeking information about Coast Guard
vessel documentation or state level boat registration.
● Attorney Services
- A complete range of self-service kits for
in-house preparation of Coast Guard vessel documentation, preferred
mortgages, claims of lien, and state level boat registration.
● Vessel Titling Forms
- An extensive gathering of Coast Guard vessel documentation, state
level boat registration, and boat trailer forms for use by attorneys.
● Abstract of Title Kit -
Everything you need to order, interpret, and summarize a U.S. Coast Guard
abstract of title. Includes a decoding list, summary worksheet, and a free
subscription to our Vessel Abstracting Handbook.
●
Financial Institutions Database - A gathering of searchable
databases showing all
U.S. lending institutions with background and merger information.
●
Boat Registration Summary - A state-by-state overview of boat,
trailer, and registration requirements. Includes information about boat
loan perfection methods, taxes, inspections, notaries, boat dealers, and
yacht brokers.
● Court
Authorized Transfers - Recording requirements for court authorized transfers
resulting from foreclosures, divorce settlements, tax liens, and
governmental forfeitures on Coast Guard documented vessels or state registered boats.
●
Federal Register - Government access site where
the Federal Register can be searched for changes and proposed changes in
"vessel documentation" or "documented vessel" regulations.
● Floating Homes
- Comparing the differences in house boats, floating homes, and house barges with
respect to Coast Guard vessel documentation and state level
registration.
●
Marine Investigator Database - A searchable listing of certified
marine investigators hosted by the International Association of Marine
Investigators
●
Maritime Arbitration Association - MAA is the national
organization of the maritime community for alternative dispute
resolution.
●
U.S. Coastwise Laws - Question and answer primer on
coastwise laws hosted by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD).
●
Vessel
Documentation Database - Public databases for searching Cost Guard
vessel documentation records. Can be searched by official number, hull
number, or vessel name.
● Vessel Descriptions
- Understanding the importance of proper vessel descriptions when
dealing with title applications and transfer documents.
● Vessel Documentation
Information
- Visit our federal page for information, articles, resources, and
guidelines related to documenting a vessel on the federal level.
●
Vessel Documentation Regulations - A searchable database
which contains the federal administrative code for Coast Guard vessel
documentation.
● Vessel
Research Guide - Guidelines for implementing title searches
on Coast Guard documented vessels and boats registered on the state
level.
Court awards and
authorized sales of vessels arising from foreclosures, divorce
settlements, tax liens, and governmental forfeitures are frequently a
basis for vessel recordings. Vessel titling and registration agencies
will accept such actions if the form and content of the respective court
orders fulfill their policy requirements. Such filings will likely come under close scrutiny by
vessel documentation officers or state registration clerks at the time of
processing.
Applications for
transfers of ownership made under these conditions are most often
rejected because the vessel was not properly identified in the court
documents. Descriptive terms such as "the boat" or "all personal
property" will not in themselves fulfill most state level requirements
and are sure to generate a deficiency when filed with the U.S. Coast
guard for vessel documentation purposes. At a minimum the vessel should
be identified by its factory hull identification number and the Coast
Guard's official number if applicable. The length,
make, year and state registration number should also be cited whenever possible.
Recording
deficiencies can also be generated because of the language itself as set
forth in the court order. The intent of an award or
directive must be stated in clear and unambiguous terms which can be
easily recognized by a layperson.
In most cases, copies of such documents must be
certified by the respective court clerk when presented for
vessel recordings.
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and vessel transaction needs.
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