Does my brother's wife get any of the money my Mom left in her bank?

we need more information about the type of account and also it might depend on what state you reside.

This sounds like it is outside of probate and, in that instance, she would get what you want her to have. If she didn't help, why would you give her anything? Where is your brother? Does he have any children who might like a small gift from grandma?

What Freqflyer wrote about Rights of Survivorship is more correct in your case than the Payable on Death.

Is your brother still alive? If your mother died without a will and the account is not payable upon death, as freqflyer mentioned, then the state will decide where the money goes. If there is a spouse, it usually goes to the spouse. If not, and there are children, it is divided among the children. If the money in the account does become yours after death, then you can do as you feel fits the situation.

Do you mean to you have to give money to your SIL out of the goodness of your heart? No.

As freqflyer points out, the type of joint account you had is important.

You need a copy of her Will and you need a lawyer to sort out the Estate. The Estate means the house, the car, the money, the CD, everything.

In regard to joint accounts it all depends on the type of survivorship stipulations associated with that joint account. Is the account *Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship* or *Tenants in Common"?

The *Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship* means the other person on the account receives said money.

The *Tenants in Common* needs to go to Probate to decide who receives said money if there is no Will.

there is no will, but I am on a joint bk acct with my mother, i was asking if i should give my brother's wife, who is better off than I, (because i have not worked in years,taking care of my mother) my mother did have a cd or something in my brother's wife name ,I think it is around 20,000.00

If it is a joint account, with you as one of the account holders, it is yours. Wills have nothing to do with bank accounts.

What does her will say?

If there's no will, the law in your state says who gets what.