Estate of Harris

In Estate of Harris (1915) 169 Cal. 725, the decedent and his spouse had orally agreed that all the property held or acquired by either one during the marriage would be held in joint tenancy. Consistent with their agreement, they opened a joint bank account. With money from the account, they brought corporate stock and agreed the title to the stock should be taken and held by them as joint tenants. Following Mr. Harris's death, Mrs. Harris became administrator of his estate and filed a final accounting that did not include property acquired with funds from the joint account. Mr. Harris's sister unsuccessfully challenged the accounting and the Supreme Court enforced the agreement of the decedent and his wife that, not only funds in the bank account but any property acquired with those funds, would be held in joint tenancy.