What happens to joint bank accounts in an intestate succession?

In Washington, when someone dies without a will (intestate) and there are joint bank accounts, the assets in these accounts will be treated as jointly owned property. This means that the assets in the joint bank accounts will be distributed to the surviving joint owner(s) without passing through probate. The balance in the joint bank account will be divided between the surviving joint owner(s) in the same proportion that it was held prior to the death. For example, if a joint bank account was held 50/50 by a husband and wife, then the balance of the account will be divided 50/50 among the surviving spouse. If there are multiple joint owners, the balance of the account will be divided according to the percentage ownership each joint owner holds. It’s important to note that any assets held solely in the name of the deceased will be subject to Washington’s intestate succession laws, and will need to be passed through probate before they can be distributed to the surviving heirs. Additionally, if there is a will or other documents that provide instructions on how these assets should be distributed, these instructions should be followed.

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What happens to joint bank accounts in an intestate succession?

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