$80,000 Joint Bank Account Her Mother Shared With a Late

Candice's relatives informed the reader of the account and now want half the money. The reader is considering giving $25,000 to $30,000 to Candice's estate to balance fairness with her mother's rising medical costs, which increased by $1,400 a month. Slate's Pay Dirt column advises that legally the full amount belongs to the mother as the surviving account holder, but suggests the proposed gift is a thoughtful middle ground and recommends consulting an estate attorney to confirm legal status and structure the transfer smoothly.