Tampa, FL asked in Family Law and Probate for North Carolina

Q: How to 'fix' transferring funds from deceased checking account? (North Carolina)

Just before my father passed, he and I set up a savings account online with me as a joint owner.

We neglected to add me on the checking account.

The day after he passed, a check auto-deposited in the checking account. Thinking I was joint on both, I transferred the money to the joint savings account.

The estate is now in probate and I need to rectify this transfer. What would be the proper legal way to do this?

Thank you!

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1 Lawyer Answer

A: The funds in the checking account at the time of death are part of your father's estate. Because this money was transferred after death, it becomes much harder to determine the ownership. To access the account, you will have to go through the probate process and be appointed the personal representative of your father's estate.

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