If an owner dies and no surviving owner or surviving beneficiary exists, on proof of death of all persons shown on the certificate of title, surrender of the outstanding certificate of title, and on application and payment of the fee for an original certificate of title, the director of revenue may rely on, transfer and issue a new certificate of title in accordance with one of the following:
(1) A certified copy of a court order approving the transfer, refusing to issue letters of administration, terminating administration or authorizing distribution of the deceased owner's estate;(2) A small estate affidavit with the certificate of the clerk of the probate division of the circuit court, as provided in section 473.097; or(3) A notarized application for transfer from a personal representative of the deceased owner accompanied by a copy of the personal representative's letters of administration or letters testamentary together with a court order approving the transfer or a statement that the personal representative has authority under section 473.457 or subdivision (16) of section 473.810 to make the transfer without court order.