Several years ago, we had to deliver a boat that had been caught up in a double murder in Mexico.  The husband had been murdered, the wife had flown home to recover and sort out her future. Unfortunately this was her second marrige and the boat was not registered jointly in her name. Nor was she signed on as Captain. Her husbands will stated, as many do, that she would inherit his possessions if she survived him for 180 days. That left the boat ownership in complete limbo. We had a really difficult time arranging for clearance so we could take possession of the boat and head to sea. (We discuss this in a lot more detail in the next edition of Capable Cruiser which should be available in December 2009). From that experience we learned we needed a document to cover either of us should a similar situation occur. We keep a current copy signed and witnessed and with a notary’s signature in our shipboard files. It is important to have this document both witnessed and notarized as in some parts of the USA two witnesses are required for any document which could be involved in the estate of a deceased person.