Never heard of petitioning a court for a title unless your relative willed it to you. Anyway, you need to start at the MVD and see what they advise. Probably some form of "bonded title" procedure. If the title was simply lost, that's real easy. Hope you have some form of Bill of Sale or papers saying you purchased it. In any case, there is ALWAYS a danger in buying a vehicle without a title. I NEVER do it. Someone can claim it. It is possible. If it was stolen 20 years ago, it belongs to that owner, period. Everyone else has been selling stolen property. A bonded title has notification requirements, a waiting period and a bond (insurance policy) so that no one is out any money except you who has to buy the policy and wait 3 years for a real title. Usually it was abandoned on someone's farm or the owner and all relatives have died, etc....or it was traded for a cow. Maybe you can contact the last person who had a title and get it transferred to you but that is risky if he wants it back. Be careful not to stir up a nest in court where you get stung.
