New York Transfer of Ownership When the Vehicle Owner is Deceased is a process for legally transferring ownership of a vehicle when the original owner has died. There are two types of New York Transfer of Ownership when the vehicle owner is deceased: Transfer by Affidavit of Warship and Transfer by Small Estate Affidavit. Transfer by Affidavit of Warship requires the submission of a completed Affidavit of Warship Form MV-241, which must be signed by all legal heirs and witnesses and notarized. This form must be accompanied by the vehicle's original title and registration, a copy of the death certificate, and proof of insurance. Transfer by Small Estate Affidavit requires the submission of a completed Small Estate Affidavit Form MV-232, which must be signed by all legal heirs and witnesses and notarized. This form must be accompanied by the vehicle's original title and registration, a copy of the death certificate, and proof of insurance. In both cases, the transfer must be completed within 45 days from the date of the deceased owner’s death. If the transfer is not completed within 45 days, a late fee will be assessed.