1. (a) General rule.— If the interest of an owner in a vehicle passes to another other than by voluntary transfer, the transferee shall, except as otherwise provided, promptly mail or deliver to the department the last certificate of title, if available, and shall apply for a new certificate of title on a form prescribed and furnished by the department. The application shall be accompanied by such instruments or documents of authority, or certified copies thereof, as may be sufficient or required by law to evidence or effect a transfer of title or interest in or to chattels in such case.
2. (b) Transfer to surviving spouse.— Transfer of a certificate of title to a surviving spouse, or any person designated by the spouse, may be made without the necessity of filing for letters of administration notwithstanding the fact that there are minor children surviving the decedent provided the surviving spouse files an affidavit that all the debts of the decedent have been paid.

3. (c) Surrender of certificate.— A person holding a certificate of title whose interest in a vehicle has been extinguished or transferred other than by voluntary transfer shall immediately surrender the certificate of title to the person to whom the right to possession of the vehicle has passed. Upon request of the department, such person shall mail or deliver the certificate to the department. Delivery of the certificate pursuant to the request of the department does not affect the rights of the person surrendering the certificate.

   Saved from Suspension. Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure for District Justices No. 482(10), as amended April 25, 1979, provided that section 1114 shall not be deemed suspended or affected. Rules 401 through 482 relate to execution of judgments for the payment of money rendered by district justices. Act 207 of 2004 changed justices of the peace to magisterial district judges. Rule 482 can now be found in Rules of Conduct, Office Standards and Civil Procedure for Magisterial District Judges.

   Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 3159(b)(11), adopted April 20, 1998, provided that section 1114 shall not be deemed suspended or affected by Rules 3101 through 3149 relating to enforcement of money judgments for the payment of money.

   References in Text. Section 28 of Act 207 of 2004 provided that any and all references in any other law to a "district justice" or "justice of the peace" shall be deemed to be references to a magisterial district judge.

Cross References. Section 1114 is referred to in sections 1902, 6308 of this title; section 367 of Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations).