Legal Question in Banking Law in Pennsylvania

Re: joint checking

You asked about an account held jointly with a deceased roommate.

The law actually operates the opposite from that described in your question. A joint account passes to the person surviving. Essentially, the title is held as joint tenants with right of survivorship, unless it is specified otherwise in the account agreement.

You are fully entitled to the account, but the decent thing to do is to properly account for the funds. When done then you should devise the funds to yourself and the heir(s).

If the funds are substantial you should seek assistance to avoid the likely litigation to follow by arriving at a suitable division.

Regards,