My Father recently passed and I was named the sole executor in his will. While documenting the assets of his estate, I discovered a checking...

Question

My Father recently passed and I was named the sole executor in his will. While documenting the assets of his estate, I discovered a checking account with a sizable amount of money in it. This account is a joint account with my sister. As executor, is the money in the account included in my father's estate or can my sister rightfully claim the money as hers?

Answer

If your sister was a joint owner, then the money became solely hers at your father's death. It is not part of your father's estate. This may not have been his intention, but it is the result.