What happens to a joint checking account after the death of one of the owners?

What happens to a joint checking account after the death of one of the owners?

I had a joint checking/savings account with my mother who passed away 2 weeks ago. She had a reverse mortgage payment that funded before she died of $23,000 added to the checking account. The bank has stated that I am now the sole owner of that account and the funds in it. My sister is the executor of the estate and there is a will leaving the assests to be divided equally between us. As the bank account is now in my name only, does the money in that account qualify as part of her assets that need to be used to pay off her hospital bills, or is it exempt?

Asked on March 7, 2012 under Estate Planning, Washington

Answers:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.