Stuck With A Dead Man's Car

Location: Ohio

I purchased a vehicle at an estate auction at the end of 2024. The title had Jack (deceased), and his girlfriend, Jill. Jill abandoned the vehicle after Jack died. The estate made multiple efforts to reach her, and was unsuccessful. She is believed deceased but this is unconfirmed. The vehicle was declared legally abandoned by a county judge due to Jill ditching it.

The judge issued an order ordering the vehicle to be sold in the estate auction, however the title on the car still shows Jack (deceased) and Jill.

The title status was disclosed in the auction as "going through the courts and would be resolved in several weeks" and I purchased it in good faith with the expectation of taking ownership in a timely manner.

The Ohio BMV would not accept the judge's order to sell as Jill was still on the title and was not mentioned in the judge's order, and I was not able to transfer it into my name.

The case went back to the estate's attorney, and he has gone back and forth with the judge on this case since Jan 2025. There have been multiple back and forths as they try to litigate how to sell this vehicle and the attorney was forced to ask the judge explicitly what she wanted done and how because her instructions have changed repeatedly.

The case is currently waiting on the judge to review the latest petition, which is for the estate to make one final public notice to Jill regarding the vehicle in the courthouse bulletin for 6 weeks.

This is the third time they've given her public notice now, and while I understand that they just want to make sure the case is absolutely airtight and has made every effort to reach Jill, it feels like the case never makes any real progress.

There is supposed to be a hearing scheduled regarding the title but it keeps getting pushed back and every time the attorney tells me he'll have a date, it never happens.

I feel like the judge never should have issued the title or order in such a way and erred in not speaking to Jill's abandonment in the order to sell. I have possession of the vehicle but I can't insure or drive it since it's not mine, and it's losing value.

At this point I honestly just want my money back and for the estate to collect their car, however I don't know if I can even request that since it's tied up in the legal process and I'm concerned if I try to back out now it'll mess things up.

The attorney belongs to the estate, so I'm not paying him, but he wants this resolved as well since he's not paid until the estate resolves. I am hesitant to sink more money into this and hire my own attorney since it's unclear what that would add when one law firm is already on the job. My inclination is that if I have to hire an attorney it would be to sue for my money back, but I'd prefer not to have to do that if possible.

Is there a way to get my money back here, or should I just let the legal process play out?