joint bank account

ldevine2010

hi there

I'm hoping someone can help. my mum and grandad had a join bank account, sadly my grandad passed away nearly a year ago. my mum was his carer and he lived with her for over 16 years. she cared for him for over 30 years all together.
my grandad was always made believe that the joint back account, on his death, would solely become my mums. my aunt and uncles have now went to a lawyer and are trying to take the money from my mum. although the bank account is now in her name. does she have any rights to this money or does it have to be split between all 4 of them. Scottish law is hard to follow and we can't seem to get the proper answers.
is the money in the account now my mums or does it have to be split 4 ways.
the other siblings never cared for or bothered with my grandad. never bothered to call and ask how he was but have now all crawled out of the wood work wanting his money.

i really hope someone can help and give me the answer or even advice on a good lawyer to contact who can fight our corner for us.

colsten

It is normal that a joint bank account becomes the account of the surviving account holder when the other account holder dies. This is in the T&Cs for the account. For example, Royal Bank of Scotland say "If one of you dies, we’ll accept instructions from the remaining account holder(s) and the account will pass into their name(s)." From what you say, this is exactly what happened with your mum's account, so all is well. The account, and all the money in it, is now her's to do with as she pleases.


Never take advice from strangers on the Internet about a service, e.g. a Lawyer. I don't think your mum should need a Lawyer unless it goes to Court but if she feels she needs assistance, she could ask her local Citizen's Advice https://www.cas.org.uk/

EssexExile

Layman here so I know nothing, at the time of Grandad's death didn't his half of the money in the account become part of his estate?

See a proper lawyer.