Will Wednesday: We put Mom’s investments and her house in our joint names. Who gets the money?

Q. We put Mom’s investments and her house in our joint names. Who gets the money?

A. Many individuals conclude, often incorrectly, that the ownership of joint investments or real estate holdings pass to the joint account holder automatically when ·the other account holder dies. A joint account, including ownership of property and or financial assets, is a common and growing area of potential litigation in estate administration. It can have serious tax and estate implications for all parties involved.