here, if you anybody can apply for a lost title. the dmv will send a letter to the last registered owner, and if they dont reply within a certain amount of time the dmv will send you a no longer clean title. check your local state. this process takes months, could also be used for abandoned vehicles.
Also here if you the owner lose the title i think all it is is a trip down to the dmv with ID, to get a replacement, might have to be mailed.

I would not buy a vehicle without a title for anything but parts.