705.02
705.02
Creation of multiple-party or agency relationship. 705.02(1)(1) Provisions in substantially the following form contained in a signature card, passbook, contract or instrument evidencing an account shall be effective to create the multiple-party accounts described in this subchapter when conspicuously printed or typewritten immediately above or adjacent to the place for the signatures of the parties to the account:
705.02(1)(a)
(a) Joint account: "THIS ACCOUNT/CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT IS JOINTLY OWNED BY THE PARTIES NAMED HEREON. UPON THE DEATH OF ANY OF THEM, OWNERSHIP PASSES TO THE SURVIVOR(S)."
705.02(1)(b)
(b) P.O.D. account with single party: "THIS ACCOUNT/CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT IS OWNED BY THE PARTY NAMED HEREON. UPON THE DEATH OF SUCH PARTY, OWNERSHIP PASSES TO THE P.O.D. BENEFICIARY(IES) NAMED HEREON."
705.02(1)(c)
(c) P.O.D. account with multiple parties: "THIS ACCOUNT/CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT IS JOINTLY OWNED BY THE PARTIES NAMED HEREON. UPON THE DEATH OF ANY OF THEM, OWNERSHIP PASSES TO THE SURVIVOR(S). UPON THE DEATHS OF ALL OF SUCH PARTIES, OWNERSHIP PASSES TO THE P.O.D. BENEFICIARY(IES) NAMED HEREON."
705.02(1)(d)
(d) Marital account: "THIS ACCOUNT/CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT IS OWNED AS A MARITAL ACCOUNT BY THE PARTIES NAMED HEREON. UPON THE DEATH OF EITHER OF THEM, THE SURVIVOR OWNS 50% OF THE SUMS ON DEPOSIT."
705.02(1)(e)
(e) Marital account with P.O.D. beneficiaries: "THIS ACCOUNT/CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT IS OWNED AS A MARITAL ACCOUNT BY THE PARTIES NAMED HEREON. UPON THE DEATH OF EITHER OF THEM, 50% OF THE SUMS ON DEPOSIT ARE OWNED BY THE SURVIVOR AND 50% ARE OWNED BY THE P.O.D. BENEFICIARY(IES) NAMED HEREON BY THE DECEASED PARTY."
705.02(2)
(2) Provisions in substantially the following form contained in a signature card, passbook, contract or instrument evidencing an account shall be effective to create the agency relationship described in this subchapter when conspicuously printed or typewritten immediately above or adjacent to the place for the designation of the agent or agents, which designation shall be separately subscribed or initialed by all of the parties to the account: "TRANSACTIONS REGARDING THIS ACCOUNT/CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT MAY BE MADE BY THE AGENT(S) NAMED HEREON. NO PRESENT OR FUTURE OWNERSHIP OR RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP IS CONFERRED BY THIS DESIGNATION." In addition, if such designation makes specific reference to
s. 705.05 (3) or otherwise provides that the authority of an agent shall be exercisable notwithstanding the legal disability of any party to the account, or if the designated agent is the spouse of a party, then the authority of such agent shall be governed by
s. 705.05 (3).
705.02(3)
(3) Any deposit made to an account created on or after July 1, 1975, and within the scope of this subchapter, which account is not evidenced by an agreement containing language in substantial conformity with this section, signed by the depositor in accordance with
s. 705.01 (1), shall nonetheless be deemed to create either a single-party relationship, with agency, or a joint or P.O.D. relationship, with or without the designation of one or more agents, or a marital relationship if the account is created after January 1, 1986, in accordance with whatever competent evidence is available concerning the depositor's intent at the time the account was created. Such relationship may differ from that established by any other depositor. A deposit which is made in conformity with the language and signature requirements of this section and
s. 705.01 (1) shall be deemed to create an account in accordance with this subchapter, with respect to such deposit and all other deposits by the same person, notwithstanding whatever relationships may be established by other depositors.
705.02 Annotation
See note to 909.01, citing Bruckner v. Prairie Fed. Savings & Loan Asso. 81 W (2d) 215, 260 NW (2d) 256.
705.03
705.03
Ownership during lifetime. Unless there is clear and convincing evidence of a different intent:
705.03(1)
(1) A joint account belongs, during the lifetime of all parties, to the parties without regard to the proportion of their respective contributions to the sums on deposit and without regard to the number of signatures required for payment. The application of any sum withdrawn from a joint account by a party thereto shall not be subject to inquiry by any person, including any other party to the account and notwithstanding such other party's minority or other disability, except that the spouse of one of the parties may recover under
s. 766.70. No financial institution is liable to the spouse of a married person who is a party to a joint account for any sum withdrawn by any party to the account unless the financial institution violates a court order.
705.03(2)
(2) A P.O.D. account belongs to the original payee during the original payee's lifetime and not to the P.O.D. beneficiary or beneficiaries. If 2 or more parties are named as original payees, during their lifetimes rights as between them are governed by
sub. (1); and a surviving original payee may revoke or amend the P.O.D. beneficiary designation at will.
705.03(3)
(3) A marital account belongs, during the lifetime of both parties, to the parties without regard to the proportion of their respective contributions to the sums on deposit or to the number of signatures required for payment. A party to a marital account may name one or more P.O.D. beneficiaries for that party's interest. No person may inquire about the application of any sums withdrawn from a marital account by a party to the account, except that if the parties are married to one another the other party to the account may recover under
s. 766.70.
705.03 Annotation
Withdrawal of funds from joint account by either party while both are alive may not later be subjected to inquiry by other party's estate. Matter of Estate of Frank, 140 W (2d) 429, 410 NW (2d) 621 (Ct. App. 1987).
705.03 Annotation
The transfer of separately owned property of one spouse into a joint account in both spouses' names changes the character of the ownership interest of the entire property to marital property. In Matter of Estate of Lloyd, 170 W (2d) 240, 487 NW (2d) 644 (Ct. App. 1992).
705.04
705.04
Right of survivorship. 705.04(1)
(1) Sums remaining on deposit at the death of a party to a joint account belong to the surviving party or parties as against the estate of the decedent unless there is clear and convincing evidence of a different intention at the time the account is created. If there are 2 or more surviving parties, their ownership interests during lifetime shall remain subject to
s. 705.03 (1); and the right of survivorship continues between the surviving parties.
705.04(2)
(2) If the account is a P.O.D. account, on the death of the original payee or the survivor of 2 or more original payees, any sums remaining on deposit belong to the P.O.D. beneficiaries if surviving, or to the survivor of them if one or more die before the original payee. Payment may be made to a minor P.O.D. beneficiary, however, only in accordance with a procedure approved in
ch. 880. If 2 or more P.O.D. beneficiaries survive, they shall be entitled to payment of the sums on deposit in accordance with such written instructions as may have been filed with the financial institution, and if none, to payment in equal shares. There is no right of survivorship in the event of the death of one of 2 or more P.O.D. beneficiaries after their entitlement to payment has matured unless the terms of the account expressly provide for survivorship or for the account's continuance as a joint account.
705.04(2g)
(2g) Notwithstanding
subs. (1) and
(2), the department of health and family services may collect, from funds of a decedent that are held by the decedent immediately before death in a joint account or a P.O.D. account, an amount equal to the medical assistance that is recoverable under
s. 49.496 (3) (a), an amount equal to aid under 49.68, 49.683 or 49.685 that is recoverable under
s. 49.682 (2) (a) or an amount equal to long-term community support services under
s. 46.27 that is recoverable under
s. 46.27 (7g) (c) 1. and that was paid on behalf of the decedent or the decedent's spouse.
705.04(2m)
(2m) Unless a marital property agreement under
s. 766.58 provides otherwise, after deducting all payments and certifications made under
s. 404.405 50% of the sums remaining on deposit at the death of a party to a marital account belongs to and may, upon the maturity of the account, be withdrawn by the surviving spouse and 50% belongs to and may, upon the maturity of the account, be withdrawn by the decedent's estate. No financial institution is liable for any amount withdrawn under this subsection by a party who falsely claims to be the decedent's spouse.
705.04(3)
(3) Subject to
s. 853.15, a right of survivorship arising from the express terms of the account or under this section, or a P.O.D. beneficiary designation, cannot be changed by will. Any transfers resulting from the application of this section are not to be considered testamentary dispositions.
705.04(4)
(4) As to any deposit made on or after January 1, 1986, a surviving spouse who is not a party to the account may recover under
s. 766.70 (6).
705.04 Annotation
See note to sec. 705.06 citing In Matter of Estate of Martz, 171 W (2d) 89, 491 NW (2d) 772 (Ct. App. 1992).
705.05
705.05
Designation and powers of agent. 705.05(1)
(1) A party to an account, notwithstanding such party's minority, or if the account has multiple parties, all of them acting in concert, may appoint one or more agents for purposes of making withdrawals from the account. The authority of an agent to make withdrawals from an account may be terminated by any party to the account upon written notice to the financial institution, and this shall not preclude a party's liability for wrongful termination of such agency.
705.05(2)
(2) The uses and purposes for which withdrawals may be made by an agent to an account shall be governed by agency principles of general application. The application of any sum withdrawn from an account shall only be subject to inquiry by a party to the account, and such party shall have the burden of proving breach of the agency relationship. A minor party may not disaffirm the appointment of an agent, but the period within which the minor party may inquire into the propriety of any withdrawal shall be governed by
s. 893.16 or
893.18. Unless there is clear and convincing evidence of a different intent, if the agent is a spouse of a party, the sums so withdrawn may be used, but not by way of limitation, for the support and maintenance of either spouse or any common minor children.
705.05(3)
(3) The parties to an account may provide, by the terms of the account or by independent written power of attorney which, if later, shall have precedence over the terms of the account, that the authority conferred upon an agent shall be exercisable notwithstanding any party's legal disability. In such case the authority of the agent is also exercisable notwithstanding later uncertainty as to whether a party is dead or alive. Absent a written direction to the contrary, the foregoing power of withdrawal shall exist without the necessity of written provision if the agent is the spouse of a party, but in such a case funds so withdrawn, the application of which may be inquired into only as provided in
sub. (2), may only be used for the support and maintenance of either spouse and any common minor children. This subsection shall apply to all accounts created prior to and after July 1, 1975.
705.06
705.06
Protection of financial institutions. 705.06(1)
(1) In accordance with the terms of an account, and subject to this subchapter,
ch. 112 and the duties prescribed for personal representatives in
ch. 72 and unless otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction:
705.06(1)(a)
(a) A financial institution may on request pay any sums on deposit in the account to any party or agent; and the financial institution shall not be required to look into the source of funds received for deposit or the proposed application of any funds withdrawn or requested to be withdrawn.
705.06(1)(b)
(b) Any sums in a joint account may be paid, on request, to any party without regard to whether any other party is under legal disability or is deceased at the time the payment is requested.
705.06(1)(c)
(c) Any sums in a P.O.D. account may be paid, on request, to the P.O.D. beneficiary upon presentation to the financial institution of proof of death showing that the P.O.D. beneficiary survived all persons named as original payees.
705.06(1)(d)
(d) Any sums in a marital account may be paid, on request, to either party without regard to whether the other party is under legal disability or is deceased, unless the financial institution receives actual notice that the other party is deceased. After receipt of actual notice of the death of one party to a marital account, the financial institution may pay on request not more than 50% of the sums on deposit to the surviving party, and 50% of that amount to the personal representative of the deceased party or if applicable to any P.O.D. beneficiary of the deceased party's interest, unless before payment is made the financial institution receives a verified statement under
s. 865.201 or a certified copy of a certificate or recorded application concerning survivorship rights under
s. 867.046, in which case the financial institution shall make payment as provided in that document.
705.06(2)
(2) Payment made under this subchapter discharges the financial institution from all claims for amounts so withdrawn. If the institution has reason to believe that a dispute exists as to the rights of the parties to an account or their successors it may, but shall not be required to, refuse to pay funds in the account to any persons. An institution may but need not recognize the authority of an agent, other than one with continuing authority under
s. 705.05 (3), until it knows of the fact of death or adjudication of incompetence of all parties appointing such agent and has reasonable opportunity to act. The protection provided by this section shall have no bearing on the rights of parties or their successors in disputes concerning the beneficial ownership of funds in or withdrawn from an account.
705.06 Annotation
A personal representative is not a "party" to an account held as a "joint account" by the decedent and another who survives; a bank who disburses the funds of the joint account to the personal representative is not entitled to immunity under this section. In Matter of Estate of Martz, 171 W (2d) 89, 491 NW (2d) 772 (Ct. App. 1992).
705.06 Annotation
Joint bank accounts in Wisconsin. O'Flaherty, 53 MLR 118.
705.07
705.07
Rights of creditors. 705.07(1)(1) Only the creditors of any living party to an account may subject the entire sums on deposit to their claims, as if such sums resulted solely from contributions made by the debtor party. If a joint or P.O.D. account requires the signatures of all of the parties for purposes of withdrawal, such account shall not be subject to the claims of creditors of a debtor party to the extent of the net contributions of the other parties to the account. Such other parties shall have the burden of proving their net contributions by clear and convincing evidence.
705.07(2)
(2) For purposes of
ch. 242, a debtor party shall be deemed to have made a transfer only at the time some other party withdraws all or part of the sums on deposit, or at the time of the debtor party's death as to sums not previously withdrawn. In the case of a withdrawal while the debtor party is living, the sole grounds for determining any such transfer to be fraudulent shall be whether the debtor party is or will be thereby rendered insolvent under
s. 242.05 (1) or whether the debtor party is engaged or is about to engage in a business or transaction for which the assets remaining in the debtor party's hands after the transfer are unreasonably small under
s. 242.04 (1) (b) 1. In the case of a transfer by reason of the death of the debtor party, the sole ground for determining any such transfer to be fraudulent shall be whether the debtor party's estate subject to administration is insolvent under
s. 242.02. For purposes of this subsection, the amount transferred shall be deemed to consist of those assets which the creditors of the debtor party could have made subject to their claims immediately prior to the transfer, less any sums which such creditors could have made so subject to their claims immediately after the transfer.
705.07 History
History: 1973 c. 291;
1987 a. 192.
705.08
705.08
Construction. This subchapter shall be construed in such a manner as to ensure reasonable certainty of legal result for those who establish a multiple-party or agency account.
705.08 History
History: 1973 c. 291;
1989 a. 331.
705.09
705.09
Applicability of general transfers at death provisions. Chapter 854 applies to transfers at death under this subchapter.
705.09 History
History: 1997 a. 188.
705.09 Annotation
Wisconsin's New Probate Code. Erlanger. Wis. Law. Oct. 1998
NONPROBATE TRANSFERS AT DEATH
705.20
705.20
Nonprobate transfers on death. 705.20(1)
(1) A provision for a nonprobate transfer on death in an insurance policy, contract of employment, bond, mortgage, promissory note, certificated or uncertificated security, account agreement, custodial agreement, deposit agreement, compensation plan, pension plan, individual retirement plan, employe benefit plan, trust, conveyance, deed of gift, marital property agreement, or other written instrument of a similar nature is nontestamentary. This subsection governs a written provision that:
705.20(1)(a)
(a) Money or other benefits due, controlled by or owned by a decedent before death must be paid after the decedent's death to a person whom the decedent designates either in the instrument or in a separate writing, including a will executed either before or at the same time as the instrument, or later;
705.20(1)(b)
(b) Money due or to become due under the instrument ceases to be payable in the event of death of the promisee or the promisor before payment or demand; or
705.20(1)(c)
(c) Any property controlled by or owned by the decedent before death which is the subject of the instrument passes to a person whom the decedent designates either in the instrument or in a separate writing, including a will executed either before or at the same time as the instrument, or later.
705.20(2)
(2) This section does not limit rights of creditors under other laws of this state.
705.20(3)
(3) Chapter 854 applies to transfers at death under this section.
705.20 History
History: 1989 a. 331;
1997 a. 188.
705.20 Note
NOTE: Sections 705.20 to 705.30 apply to registrations of securities in beneficiary form made before, on or after 5-11-90 by decedents dying after 5-11-90.
705.20 Annotation
Wisconsin's New Probate Code. Erlanger. Wis. Law. Oct. 1998
TRANSFER ON DEATH
SECURITY REGISTRATION
705.21
705.21
Definitions; transfer on death security registration. In
ss. 705.21 to
705.30:
705.21(2)
(2) "Beneficiary form" means a registration of a security which indicates the present owner of the security and the intention of the owner regarding the person who will become the owner of the security upon the death of the owner.
705.21(5)
(5) "Devisee" means any person designated in a will to receive a disposition of real or personal property.
705.21(7)
(7) "Personal representative" has the meaning given in
s. 851.23.
705.21(9)
(9) "Register", including its derivatives, means to issue a certificate showing the ownership of a certificated security or, in the case of an uncertificated security, to initiate or transfer an account showing ownership of securities.
705.21(10)
(10) "Registering entity" means a person who originates or transfers a security title by registration, and includes a broker maintaining security accounts for customers and a transfer agent or other person acting for or as an issuer of securities.
705.21(11)
(11) "Security" means a share, participation or other interest in property, in a business or in an obligation of an enterprise or other issuer, and includes a certificated security, an uncertificated security and a security account.
705.21(12)
(12) "Security account" means any of the following:
705.21(12)(a)
(a) A reinvestment account associated with a security, a securities account with a broker, a cash balance in a brokerage account, cash, interest, earnings or dividends earned or declared on a security in an account, a reinvestment account or a brokerage account, whether or not credited to the account before the owner's death.
705.21(12)(b)
(b) A cash balance or other property held for or due to the owner of a security as a replacement for or product of an account security, whether or not credited to the account before the owner's death.
705.21(13)
(13) "State" includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession subject to the legislative authority of the United States.
705.21 History
History: 1989 a. 331.
705.22
705.22
Registration in beneficiary form; sole or joint tenancy ownership. Only individuals whose registration of a security shows sole ownership by one individual or multiple ownership by 2 or more with right of survivorship, rather than as tenants in common, may obtain registration in beneficiary form. Multiple owners of a security registered in beneficiary form hold as joint tenants with right of survivorship, as tenants by the entireties, or as owners of community property held in survivorship form, and not as tenants in common.
705.22 History
History: 1989 a. 331.
705.23
705.23
Registration in beneficiary form; applicable law. A security may be registered in beneficiary form if the form is authorized by
ss. 705.21 to
705.30 or a similar statute of the state of organization of the issuer or registering entity, the location of the registering entity's principal office, the office of its transfer agent or its office making the registration, or by
ss. 705.21 to
705.30 or a similar statute of the law of the state listed as the owner's address at the time of registration. A registration governed by the law of a jurisdiction in which
ss. 705.21 to
705.30 or similar legislation is not in force or was not in force when a registration in beneficiary form was made is nevertheless presumed to be valid and authorized as a matter of contract law.
705.23 History
History: 1989 a. 331.
705.24
705.24
Origination of registration in beneficiary form. A security, whether evidenced by certificate or account, is registered in beneficiary form if the registration includes a designation of a beneficiary to take the ownership at the death of the owner or the deaths of all multiple owners.
705.24 History
History: 1989 a. 331.
705.25
705.25
Form of registration in beneficiary form. Registration in beneficiary form may be shown by the words "transfer on death" or the abbreviation "TOD" or by the words "pay on death" or the abbreviation "POD", after the name of the registered owner and before the name of a beneficiary.
705.25 History
History: 1989 a. 331.
705.26
705.26
Effect of registration in beneficiary form. The designation of a TOD beneficiary on a registration in beneficiary form does not affect ownership until the owner's death. A registration of a security in beneficiary form may be canceled or changed at any time by the sole owner or all then surviving owners, without the consent of the beneficiary.
705.26 History
History: 1989 a. 331.
