{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-50-1541.19","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 50-1541.19","heading":"Transfer by operation of law.","body":"(a)\nFor the purpose of this section:\n(1)\n“By operation of law” means pursuant to a law or judicial order affecting ownership of a vessel:\n(A)\nBecause of death, divorce or other family law proceeding, merger, consolidation, dissolution, or bankruptcy;\n(B)\nThrough the exercise of the rights of a lien creditor or a person having a lien created by statute or rule of law; or\n(C)\nThrough other legal process.\n(2)\n“Transfer-by-law statement” means a record signed by a transferee stating that by operation of law the transferee has acquired or has the right to acquire an ownership interest in a vessel.\n\n(b)\nA transfer-by-law statement must contain:\n(1)\nThe name and last known mailing address of the owner of record and the transferee and the other information required by § 50-1541.06(b);\n(2)\nDocumentation sufficient to establish the transferee’s ownership interest or right to acquire the ownership interest;\n(3)\nA statement that:\n(A)\nThe certificate of title is an electronic certificate of title;\n(B)\nThe transferee does not have possession of the written certificate of title created in the name of the owner of record; or\n(C)\nThe transferee is delivering the written certificate of title to the Harbor Master with the transfer-by-law statement; and\n(4)\nExcept for a transfer described in subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section, evidence that notification of the transfer and the intent to file the transfer-by-law statement has been sent to all persons indicated in the files of the Harbor Master as having an interest, including a security interest, in the vessel.\n\n(c)\nUnless the Harbor Master rejects a transfer-by-law statement for a reason stated in § 50-1541.07(c) or because the statement does not include documentation satisfactory to the Harbor Master as to the transferee’s ownership interest or right to acquire the ownership interest, not later than 20 days after delivery to the Harbor Master of the statement and payment of fees and taxes payable under the law of the District other than this chapter in connection with the statement or with the acquisition or use of the vessel, the Harbor Master shall:\n(1)\nAccept the statement;\n(2)\nAmend the files of the Harbor Master to reflect the transfer; and\n(3)\nIf the name of the owner whose ownership interest is being transferred is indicated on the certificate of title:\n(A)\nCancel the certificate of title even if the certificate of title has not been delivered to the Harbor Master;\n(B)\nCreate a new certificate of title indicating the transferee as owner;\n(C)\nIndicate on the new certificate of title any security interest indicated on the canceled certificate of title, unless a court order provides otherwise; and\n(D)\nDeliver the new certificate of title or a record evidencing an electronic certificate of title.\n\n(d)\nThis section shall not apply to a transfer of an interest in a vessel by a secured party under part 6 of Article 9 of Subtitle I of Title 28.","path":["Title 50. Motor and Non-Motor Vehicles and Traffic.","Chapter 15B. Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/50-1541.19","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"b1dbf8773941ca36502b41a9f2dbe3c3756d9aa5f3a5e26465027f7b179e4002","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-50-1541.18","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-50-1541.20"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}