I presume the bank would no more share information with the lawyer than they have with the beneficiary. I can imagine the division being complicated if the division is not per stirpes, but how long will the bank wait ?You need to speak with a knowledgeable attorney who handles estate planning.
Depending upon the laws where the bank operates and/or is chartered (and potentially the laws of the state where the decedent was domiciled) it may not be a simple as "divide by three and distribute". The applicable laws may provide that when there are multiple beneficiaries on a POD bank account that the funds are owned as "tenants in common" meaning that all beneficiaries jointly own all of the funds and they must all agree to the disposition of the funds. The laws of the involved state(s) may also provide for a claims process that could delay or even halt any distribution to beneficiaries. Finally, the terms of the deposit agreement between the bank and the decedent may provide for certain ownership or distribution following death.
Only an attorney can answer those questions for you and advise you on the appropriate course of action.
Statistics: Posted by EricGold — Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:58 am — Replies 18 — Views 1736