Q: If you are on your single parents bank accounts in Alabama and they pass away, do you have control of their estate?
A:
Your statement of facts does not contain enough information to answer your question.
When you say you are "on" your parent's bank accounts, exactly what do you mean by "on"?
Are you a tenant in common? Joint tenant with right of survivorship? Attorney in fact?
What else did your parent own when he/she passed? Any tangible personal property such as furniture, collectibles, automobiles? Any investment accounts? Anything else at all other than the bank accounts?
You should repost your question with a lot more information. Or, even better, schedule a personal consultation with a probate attorney.
Randy Bryan Ligh and James Blount Griffin agree with this answer
A: Joint bank accounts often, but not always, have a "right of survivorship" to the account holder who survives the other. The terms of the account are in that envelope full of small print that you get when you open an account. The ownership of a bank account is often a separate issue from the decedent's estate, heirs, and administrator. Talk to a qualified attorney. "Winging it" is not a good idea.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
