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372 So. 2d 13

Hines v. Carr

Supreme Court of Alabama

Decided June 22, 1979

Supreme Court of Alabama · decided 1979-06-22

Cited by 4 later decisions — most recently May 1987

4 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“"The bank in which such deposit is made may pay such deposit, or any part thereof or interest thereon, to either of said persons, or if one is dead, to the surviving of them, and such payment shall fully release and discharge the bank from all liability for any payment so made. "(b) The provisions of this section shall apply to savings accounts, checking accounts and certificates of deposit and shall also apply to any deposit made in the names of more than two persons where there is an express written provision for survivorship in the deposit contract. "(c) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the person making such deposit from withdrawing or collecting the same during his lifetime; nor shall anything contained in this section prohibit any person or persons making a deposit in the names of more than one person from providing for disposition of such deposit and interest thereon in a manner different from that provided above in this section, provided such different manner of disposition is expressly provided for in writing in the deposit contract."”

quoted by 1 later decision, including 460 So. 2d 1239 - Logan v. Citizens Nat. Bank of Opp

“This Court determined that Code § 5-16-45 was `clear in its meaning and intent that the survivor of a joint bank account is entitled to the proceeds.'”

quoted by 1 later decision, including 460 So. 2d 1239 - Logan v. Citizens Nat. Bank of Opp

Relies on Street v. Hilburn · 333 So. 2d 568 - McEniry v. Coats

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1979-06-22

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1

¶2This appeal is from a judgment of the Circuit Court granting declaratory and injunctive relief. We affirm.

¶3Barbara T. Julien deposited three separate sums of money in two different savings and loan institutions. These deposits were made in the name of Barbara T. Julien or Virginia N. Carr or Mary L. Hines with right of survivorship. When Ms. Julien *14 died, Ms. Carr filed an action seeking a temporary restraining order prohibiting the two savings and loan associations from disbursing these funds. Ms. Carr also sought a declaratory judgment as to her rights and interests in the deposits as against the other survivor, Ms. Hines. The temporary restraining order was granted and the trial on the merits was consolidated with the hearing for a preliminary injunction.

¶4The case was tried on a stipulation of the parties and additional testimony. The trial court issued findings of fact and conclusions of law, and the effect of the final judgment was that the funds were the equal property of Ms. Carr and Ms. Hines. It appears from the record that Ms. Hines attempted to show that the decedent, Ms. Julien had made an inter vivos gift of these deposits to her alone, however, the trial court foreclosed this attempt by sustaining Ms. Carr's objections. The trial court felt that Code 1975, § 5-16-45, was dispositive of the rights asserted by the appellant. We agree with that determination.

¶5In Street v. Hilburn, 295 Ala. 232, 326 So.2d 724 (1976), this Court determined that Code 1975, § 5-16-45, was "clear in its meaning and intent that the survivor of a joint bank account is entitled to the proceeds." The operation of the statute is expressly extended to situations where a deposit is made in the names of more than two persons if there is a provision for survivorship, and we feel that the judgment of the trial court is entirely consistent with this statute.

¶6The appellant argues that this statute does not preclude post-death inquiries into the ownership of funds in a joint savings and loan account. However, we are convinced that this statute was enacted to foreclose these inquiries, absent allegations of fraud, duress, mistake, incompetency or undue influence. See, McEniry v. Coats, 333 So.2d 568 (Ala. 1976).

¶7For the reasons stated, this decision is in all respects affirmed.

¶8AFFIRMED.

¶9TORBERT, C.J., and BLOODWORTH, FAULKNER and EMBRY, JJ., concur.

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