Court Opinion

ID: 9704739
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 00:44:52.072426+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:04.913837
License: Public Domain

ROBERTS, Justice,
dissenting.
The majority concludes that of the nine issues presented, the orphans’ court correctly adjudicated five and incorrectly adjudicated four. I believe all of the issues were correctly decided and would affirm the decree of the orphans’ court in its entirety.
In the view of the majority, the orphans’ court misapplied the law of joint bank accounts in finding a valid inter vivos gift to James Allen, Jr. Review of the record satisfies me that the joint account with right of survivorship constituted, as the orphans’ court held, a valid gift. Appellant William Allen failed to establish that in withdrawing funds from the joint account, the donee, James Allen, Jr., “was not acting for the mutual benefit of himself and his father.” See Dzierski Estate, 449 Pa. 285, 296 A.2d 716 (1972).
The orphans’ court also correctly found that appellant failed to establish that certain realty should be included in decedent’s estate. Likewise I agree with the orphans’ court’s determination that William Allen’s share must be reduced by advancements he received prior to decedent’s death. Finally, I believe the orphans’ court properly exercised its discretion in awarding attorneys’ fees. See LaRocca Estate, 431 Pa. 542, 246 A.2d 337 (1968).
*434Accordingly, the decree of the orphans’ court should be affirmed without modification.