Pay On Death Accounts: How to Divide Funds

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Question:

Pay on Death Accounts - If the account has multiple POD beneficiaries and the account holder dies, are the funds in the account divided equally between the POD beneficiaries or is it first come gets it all?

Answer:

Randy Carey

Typically, unless otherwise designated, the funds will be split evenly between all beneficiaries. The payout of an account with a POD designation however is a matter of State law.

Answer:

John Burnett

Some states' laws on POD account don't permit other than equal shares among the beneficiaries. Others do. Some are silent, in which case, you may want your deposit contract to be the deciding factor.

I know of no state where it's "first come gets it all." In fact, at least one state currently requires that all beneficiaries of an account get their payout at the same time.