Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

20 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6303 (2026)

Ownership during lifetime.

✓ current as of May 2026

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§ 6303. Ownership during lifetime.

(a) Joint account.--A joint account belongs, during the lifetime of all parties, to the parties in proportion to the net contributions by each to the sum on deposit, unless there is clear and convincing evidence of a different intent.

(b) Trust account.--Unless a contrary intent is manifested by the terms of the account or the deposit agreement or there is other clear and convincing evidence of an irrevocable trust, a trust account belongs beneficially to the trustee during his lifetime, and if two or more parties are named as trustees of the account during their lifetimes beneficial rights as between them are governed by subsection (a). If there is an irrevocable trust, the account belongs beneficially to the beneficiary.

Cross References. Section 6303 is referred to in section 6304 of this title.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 22 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1983–2023 · leading case: Deutsch, Larrimore & Farnish, P.C. v. Joyce & William Johnson, 848 A.2d 137 (Pa. 2004).

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Deutsch, Larrimore & Farnish, P.C. v. Joyce & William Johnson, 848 A.2d 137 (Pa. 2004). · cites it 13× “" Official Comment to 20 Pa.C.S. § 6303. Section 6303(a) is fundamental to the resolution of the issue at hand and states, in pertinent part, that "[a] joint account belongs, during the lifetime of all parties, to the parties in proportion to the net contributions by each to the…”

In Re Novosielski, 992 A.2d 89 (Pa. 2010). · cites it 3× “See also 20 Pa.C.S. § 6303, Jt. St. Govt. Comm. Comment — 1976 ("The theory of these sections is that the basic relationship of the parties is that of individual ownership of values attributable to their respective deposits and withdrawals; the right of survivorship which…”

Finkel v. Polichuk (In re Polichuk), 506 B.R. 405 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 2014). · cites it 3× “Even assuming that the Debtor and Marina were not married, Larisa argues that no transfer occurred when she was added to the 7348 Schwab Account by virtue of the Pennsylvania Multiple Party Accounts Act, 20 Pa.C.S. § 6301, et seq.”

Bollard & Assocs., Inc. v. H & R Indus., Inc., 161 A.3d 254 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). · cites it 3× “2d 137, 143 (2004) (plurality) (citing Official Comment to 20 Pa.C.S. § 6303). In determining the ownership interests of funds deposited in a joint account, courts should consider evidence provided by the parties and that individual ownership of certain funds may be attributable…”

Lessner v. Rubinson, 592 A.2d 678 (Pa. 1991). · cites it 4× “Lessner’s executor argues that under 20 Pa.C.S. § 6303, the fact that the account was opened in joint form indicates Mr.”

Enright v. Lehmann, 735 N.W.2d 326 (Minn. 2007). “2d at 143 (quoting Official Comment to 20 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 6303). The court concluded that the joint account owner “had no ownership interest” in the funds deposited by the other owner; “at most she had a mere expectation of a right of survivorship.”

Kupersmit v. Comm'r, 2016 T.C. Memo. 202 (Tax Ct. 2016). · cites it 6× “6303(a) provides: *210 "A joint account belongs, during the lifetime of all parties, to the parties in proportion to the net contributions by each to the sum on deposit, unless there is clear and convincing evidence of a different intent.”

Titus v. Shearer, 498 B.R. 508 (W.D. Pa. 2013). “2000) (holding that this presumption is not changed by 20 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6303 (a)). Because of this presumption, the wages of Mr.”

Balazick v. Ireton, 541 A.2d 1130 (Pa. 1988). “20 Pa.C.S. § 6303. Thus, unless there is clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, when both parties to a joint account are living, the account belongs to the parties in proportion to their contributions.”

Krasny v. Gi Nam (In Re Gi Nam), 257 B.R. 749 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 2000). “20 Pa.C.S. § 6303(b) (Supp.2000). 18 Lastly, section 6304, which governs the “Right of survivorship,” states, in pertinent part: Trust account.”

Lessner v. Rubinson, 555 A.2d 193 (Pa. 1989). “Appellant presents seven issues on appeal, which may be most efficiently distilled into two arguments: 1) that the trial court erred in not applying 20 Pa.C.S. § 6303(a) in deciding the issue of the ownership of the third C.”

Steinberg v. Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 758 A.2d 734 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2000). “However, Section 6303(a) of the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code, 20 Pa.C.S. § 6303(a), enacted in 1976, states: "A joint account belongs, during the lifetime of all parties in proportion to the net contributions by each to the sum on deposit, unless there is clear and…”

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— 20 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6303(a) — 12 cases

Deutsch, Larrimore & Farnish, P.C. v. Joyce & William Johnson, 848 A.2d 137 (Pa. 2004). “" Official Comment to 20 Pa.C.S. § 6303. Section 6303(a) is fundamental to the resolution of the issue at hand and states, in pertinent part, that "[a] joint account belongs, during the lifetime of all parties, to the parties in proportion to the net contributions by each to the…”

Finkel v. Polichuk (In re Polichuk), 506 B.R. 405 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 2014). “Even assuming that the Debtor and Marina were not married, Larisa argues that no transfer occurred when she was added to the 7348 Schwab Account by virtue of the Pennsylvania Multiple Party Accounts Act, 20 Pa.C.S. § 6301, et seq.”

In Re Novosielski, 992 A.2d 89 (Pa. 2010). “See also 20 Pa.C.S. § 6303, Jt. St. Govt. Comm. Comment — 1976 ("The theory of these sections is that the basic relationship of the parties is that of individual ownership of values attributable to their respective deposits and withdrawals; the right of survivorship which…”

Bollard & Assocs., Inc. v. H & R Indus., Inc., 161 A.3d 254 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “2d 137, 143 (2004) (plurality) (citing Official Comment to 20 Pa.C.S. § 6303). In determining the ownership interests of funds deposited in a joint account, courts should consider evidence provided by the parties and that individual ownership of certain funds may be attributable…”

— 20 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6303(b) — 2 cases

In Re: Est. of Jabbour, C., Appeal of: Nicotra (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).

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