Bank Accounts - A Bad Hand Dealt

[2Confused]

What is the name of your state? OR

A couple of months ago my mother passed away, leaving my brother and myself as sole heirs to her estate. My brother had a symbiotic relationship with my parents for a number of years. Being unemployed and unmarried he performed mostly menial tasks, however after the passing of my father, my mother _ even more ignorant in legal matters then me - added my brother_s name to several bank accounts for convenience purposes. With her father (my grandfather) passing away, she was out of the state for a year, and for that reason had my brother added to accounts in order to _handle matters back home_.

Upon her death she left no will, but her desire and understanding would be that all assets would be divided among us. However_ my brother does not want to relinquish any money _ and there is a considerable amount. Unfortunately I fear that I have no recourse in the matter, though I would appreciate hearing from others who have insight or shared in this experience.

A bit ironic how one person who struggles to create a life and to make ends meet can so easily get dealt a losing hand_

 

[Dandy Don]

Nothing much you can do. Sorry, but it happens all the time.

All you can do is blame mom first for not making a will and then for putting only his name on the account. It automatically goes to the joint account owner at the time of her death. She should have given him power of attorney instead.

 

[2Confused]

This is as I thouht, but thank you for your reply. And I thought that education was expensive... but now I see that ignorance is even more so!

Perhaps my one hope - however slim it is - is that blood may be thicker than money. Without a doubt some people do find that the most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved. So who knows what tomorrow brings...