My mom put me as a joint holder on her checking account years ago and she passed way last November. My brother strongly suggested I close the account and move the $$ to another one. I did this for that reason and also I live across the country and there was no bank branch near me. Now my brother is saying I stole the funds in the joint account I had with my mom. She didn't have a will and never stated that it was to be divided (which I going to do anyway even though my brother is being vindictive against all siblings because he thought he should've been given my mom's house). Do these funds have to be part of the probate? Can he sue me or something? In all my reading, once a joint holder died, the account becomes the other joint holders. Thanks!!!
We are getting an independent administrator. This person won't seek to include this account in the estate, right? Because legally it is mine?
Wow wish you had that recorded. I suggest you get a phone recorder for your phone, they have them for analog phones too. Try to figure out a way to get him to repeat it again if possible. Then never expose you have the recording until you are (if ever) called into court, immediately the case will be thrown out no doubt, prior to that you could probably get him charged with death threat as burning down a house would probably = a death threat if someone is living there.
Intestate really very interdependent on your state laws. If the old bank account was not POD ( pay on death) or some other surviorship to you and you cleared it out, could be a problem.
Really think if there was a will? My experience is that lineal tends to favor either all equal or goes to the family members (whether good or bad) who live in the county where the court is.