Bought it at an estate sale. Got the receipt from a legitimate estate sale handler. Actual owner is of course dead and it is still in his name. So how does this work out. I also bought a long tail mud motor, no serial number on the longtail part and the motor came from Harbor freight. Would like to register it also.

Idk but I hope you got a really good price on them, because from posts I've seen on this in the past it's going to be a real pia, good luck sir

You will have to have the heirs to sign the paperwork and attach an affidavit of heirship.

The only person that can apply for a "lost title", is the person whose name is on it, OR, in the case of a dead person, the heirs or estate agents. Probably not worth the hassle. If it has a VIN number plate, you can look up the last owner of registration on TPWD's website. If it doesn't have a number plate, you can get the TPWD to have a Game Warden to inspect it($25 a few years back). . If they don't find a number, they CAN give you an Assigned Hull Number. I did this, and it cost about $100 by the time I got a title, and registration. They WANT to let you register the boat, but have rules that have to follow. Smaller the county, the easier this can happen. I've done two, with only a few trips to the TPWD and money. Good luck. I didn't tell you this, but if the dead previous owner's name, of any other person's name shows in the TPWD site, your boat tag could be "lost" somehow? IslandJim

some of these great deals on jon boats are more trouble than they are worth a good rule of thumb is if they dont have a title in the persons name you are giving the money to turn around a walk you aint christopher columbus there will be other opportunities.