ÿWPC¬  ~~¡/P¼$·îæÎyUê¡ì¨É•$ â=LøùöÛ(MÑ<ûØpƒzÀšICÃ4ël=Tç%’"¶ðÛj ]MaÌ ƒºÙ äƒâ G"¤wrº¤È¯Ï:@/oêšÕ‘Ô/ÝwvÁjÎúÀÏK Xj˜P£{”Ôú#+šÐÄSYŠzåO«!6ºË[$±ÓahØ¥ûÕµ#Ô±\×,vŒ.oKçÙ‡1!hQ7ë)4ާCnž.¨6¨ß”5áÏ¢AECìË'û”¸~H*ö<–õô[­Öäzú~³Sæõù9‹á8?ÏóSÒ0ôeÈCÓœQ0MæØžÃ©/RÞ«ÔÜláüxvÔ`ó[VÚzõÊ$›z™Ï&{®S]Šò"é=;ÔÎÓ¾>wì‹ù~3˜ð$RƒµF…(•Oº‰ŽŽ#ò•øW°#{%\p =7¹¶=ù!¦¸E½üA“C”²ÌÐH&ºõ›uLãÓEAxÍíÔz\õ4¦Ýžå?\7¸ŠS;•Ù}Ôã£ÉTV~ÑïT¦Ü«!ô4’¹´,õMrGTs“‰­‡1ªÌ‰ëçE5ôÞxn6ä|ÁäZ$ÃæjGçT“)ÇëdQÚ¶Ò*# LUNW %¥ 0(«w@Ó4' 1m6L£ 0lï 0D[ 0cŸ U:U:L-† 0D³÷U:ú 4 U:7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 AQq ÆÂ 0Dˆ 0DÌ B  D/- - B\ D3y ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLlÎ(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ TD TU!TD"T#T$T%T&TÓ€0T1Tìu[%xúÿÿú, ú3|x2T #,e37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)C:\OFFICE\WPWIN\TEMPLATE\STANDARD.WPT((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(;³º$´´Ô2,eÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular"Arial Regular #Ñ#€iXÿÿd#Ñ($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€XÇ¢XXXÔÔ€\JXXÇ¢ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XÇ¢X\JÔÐ  ÐÌDecember€3,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€XÇ¢XXXÔÔ€\JXXÇ¢ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XÇ¢X\JÔÐ  ÐÌDecember€2,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular!"#&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý d(('÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd$$$$'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÓ  ÓÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ  ÑÔ€XÇ¢XXXÔÓ! °ÀX›X°œX!ÓÑ7€ö<XXdìXXdð7ÑÑ€üñÑñ&Tñ›ñ&Tññ0Tññ&Tñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eȱ` 8ttxP°ð  rßñ&Tññ0Tññ0Tññ0Tññ0Tññ&Tñ›ñ&Tññ0Tññ0Tñ›ñ0Tñà@m m ìàò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌà@$ìàAT€NASHVILLEˆÌñ1Tñœßt€ )>.*jx'ÿn` `€€@Eïö` 8ttxP'ˆð n tßñ1Tñ›ñ1Tñßt€ )>.*jx'ÿn` `€€@Eïö` 8ttxP'ˆð n tßñ0Tñœñ0Tññ1Tññ0Tññ0TñÌÌMARY€M.€PAWLAKOS,à  àà h àà À à)€€Ð `° Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ìà  àà ` àó óPlaintiff/Appellee,à h àà À àò ò)€€Stewart€Chancery„Probate€No.€P2„024Ð 8 ˆ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)ÌVS.à  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)€€Appeal€No.€01A01„9708„CH„00443Ð  ` Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)ÌLAURIE€WATSON€PAWLAKOS,à À à)Ð è 8  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ìà  àà ` àó óDefendant/Appellant.à À àò ò)ó óÐ À  ÐÌÌà@üüìàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CHANCERY„PROBATE€COURT€OF€STEWART€COUNTYˆÌà@SS!ìàAT€DOVER,€TENNESSEEˆÌà@¹ ¹ ìàTHE€HONORABLE€ALLEN€W.€WALLACE,€CHANCELLORˆÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òROBERT€H.€MOYERÐ Zª ÐRUDOLPH,€ROSS€&€FENDLEY,€P.L.L.C.ó óÐ F– ÐClarksville,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€AppellantÌÌÌÌò òDAN€R.€BRADLEYó óÐ °"! ÐWaverly,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€AppelleeÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òAFFIRMED€IN€PART,€REVERSED€IN€PARTÐ ²+'+ ÐAND€REMANDEDÌÌÌÌÌÌó óà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àò òALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€J.Ð &2v-2 ÐÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.ÌÌâ âHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€J.ó óà h àœÐ †9Ö4: ÐÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  Ññ1TñÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  Ññ1Tññ0TñÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  Ññ0Tññ&TñÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑüñÑÑ7€v•XXdðXXdì7ÑÑ  Ññ&TñÓÓà  àRespondent›€Laurie€Watson€Pawlakos€(the€Wife)€appeals€the€trial€courtððs€orderÐ ° Ðâ ârequiring€her€to€return€certain€funds€to€the€estate€of€her€deceased€husband,€JohnT.ÏPawlakos€(the€Decedent).€€For€the€reasons€hereinafter€stated,€we€affirm€in€part€and€reverseÏin€part€the€trial€courtððs€judgment.ÌÌà@ìàÔ& d ÔòòI.€€Factual€and€Procedural€HistoryóóˆÐ ¬ ü  ÐÌà  àThe€Decedent€and€the€Wife€had€a€nine„year€relationship€which€culminated€in€theirÔ'd¬ YÔÏmarriage€on€May5,€1995.€€œAt›€the€time€of€their€marriage,€the€Decedent€and€the€Wife€knewÏthat€the€Decedent€was€terminally€ill€with€cancer.€€œApproximately›€one€month€before€hisÏdeath,€the€Decedent€and€the€Wife€visited€a€branch€of€First€American€Bank€where€theyÏsigned€the€necessary€signature€cards€to€convert€two€of€the€Decedentððs€individual€bankÏaccounts€into€joint€bank€accounts.€€œThe›€account€code€on€the€signature€cards€indicated€thatÏthe€accounts€were€held€as€ð ðjoint€tenants€with€right€of€survivorship.ðð€ÌÌà  àBy€check€dated€May20,€1995,€the€Wife€withdrew€$60,000€from€one€of€the€jointÏaccounts€and€deposited€the€funds€into€her€personal€bank€account.€€œThe›€Wife€filled€out€theÏcheck,€but€the€Decedent€signed€it.€€œOn›€June14,€1995,€two€days€after€the€DecedentððsÏdeath,€the€Wife€withdrew€another€$5,000€from€the€joint€account.€ÌÌà  àIn€addition€to€withdrawing€funds€from€the€joint€account,€the€Wife€also€withdrew€fundsÏfrom€an€account€bearing€the€name€of€the€Decedentððs€brother,€PeterF.€Pawlakos.€€œAlthough›Ïthe€account€bore€the€name€of€Peter€Pawlakos,€the€Decedent€opened€the€account,€and€heÏtreated€the€funds€in€the€account€as€his€own.€€œBy›€check€dated€May20,€1995,€the€WifeÏwithdrew€$6,000€from€the€Peter€Pawlakos€account.€€By€check€dated€May23,€1995,€theÏWife€used€$3,372.35€of€the€funds€in€the€Peter€Pawlakos€account€to€pay€her€Optima€creditÏcard€bill.€€œThe›€Wife€signed€Peter€Pawlakosððs€name€to€both€checks.€€œAccording›€to€the€Wife,Ïboth€of€these€checks€were€written€at€the€direction€of€the€Decedent.€€œAfter›€the€DecedentððsÏdeath,€the€Wife€withdrew€the€remaining€$1,560.31€in€the€Peter€Pawlakos€account.€ÌÐ Ì84: Ðà  àThe€Decedent€died€on€June12,€1995.€œThereafter,›€MaryM.€Pawlakos,€theÏDecedentððs€sister€and€one€of€the€beneficiaries€under€the€Decedentððs€will,€filed€a€petition€inÏprobate€seeking€to€recover€the€foregoing€funds€allegedly€converted€by€the€Wife,€as€well€asÏother€relief.€€œAfter›€conducting€a€bench€trial,€the€trial€court€entered€a€judgment€which,€òòinterÐ P   Ðaliaóó,€required€the€Wife€to€return€the€funds€from€the€joint€account€and€from€the€PeterÐ 0 € ÐPawlakos€account€to€the€Decedentððs€estate.€€œIn›€requiring€the€Wife€to€return€the€funds€fromÏthe€joint€account,€the€trial€court€found€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€DecedentÏdid€not€intend€to€create€a€joint€account€with€right€of€survivorship€when€he€signed€theÏsignature€card€converting€his€bank€account€from€an€individual€to€a€joint€account.€€œWith›Ïregard€to€the€funds€from€the€Peter€Pawlakos€account,€the€trial€court€reasoned€that,Ïregardless€of€the€name€appearing€on€the€account,€all€of€the€evidence€at€trial€indicated€thatÏthese€funds€belonged€to€the€Decedent.€€œThis›€appeal€by€the€Wife€followed.€ÌÌÓ  ÓÔ&   ÔòòII.€€Funds€from€the€Joint€Account€at€First€American€BankóóÐ ` ÐÓÓÌà  àThe€trial€court€apparently€based€its€ruling€with€regard€to€the€joint€account€on€ourÔ' ÔÏsupreme€courtððs€holding€in€òòLowryv.€Lowryóó,€541€S.W.2d€128€(Tenn.€1976):Ð °"  ÐÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAbsent€clear€and€convincing€evidence€of€contrary€intentÏexpressed€at€the€time€of€its€execution,...€a€bank€signatureÏcard€containing€an€agreement€in€clear€and€unambiguousÏlanguage€that€a€joint€account€with€rights€of€survivorship€isÏintended,€creates€a€joint€tenancy€enforceable€according€to€itsÏterms;€and€upon€the€death€of€one€of€the€joint€tenants,€theÏproceeds€pass€to€the€survivor.Ð ` x` x ÐÌœòòñTñÓÓñTñLowryóó,›€541€S.W.2d€at€132.€€In€the€present€case,€the€signature€card€signed€by€the€DecedentÐ ,`'* Ðand€the€Wife€clearly€described€the€account€as€ð ðjoint€tenants€with€right€of€survivorship.ðð€ÏœAccordingly,›€if€the€rule€set€forth€in€òòLowryóó€applies€to€this€case,€then€the€proceeds€of€theÐ Ð/ +. Ðaccount€passed€to€the€Wife€upon€the€Decedentððs€death€unless€clear€and€convincingÏevidence€exists€that€the€Decedent€had€a€contrary€intent€at€the€time€he€executed€theÏsignature€card.Ìâ âÐ P7 26 Ðà  àSince€our€supreme€court€decided€òòLowryóó,€however,€the€legislature€amendedÐ ° Ðâ âTennessee€Code€Annotated€section€45-2-703€to€add,€òòinter€aliaóó,€the€following€provision:Ð à ÐñTñÓÓñTñà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àA€designation€of€ð ðjoint€tenants€with€right€of€survivorship,ððÏor€substantially€similar€language,€shall€be€conclusive€evidenceÏin€any€action€or€proceeding€of€the€intentions€of€all€named€thatÏtitle€vests€in€the€survivor.Ð ` x` x ÐÌœñTñÓÓñTññTñÓÓñTñT.C.A.›€ðð45-2-703(e)(1)€(1993).€€This€provision€applies€to€accounts€created€on€or€afterÏJanuary1,€1989.€€òòSeeóó€T.C.A.€ðð45-2-703(g)€(1993).Ð P  ÐÌà  àœIn€òòIn›€re€Estate€of€Nicholsóó,€856€S.W.2d€397€(Tenn.€1993),€the€supreme€court€notedÐ À Ðthe€new€subsectionððs€use€of€the€term€ð ðconclusive€evidence,ðð€but€the€court€then€proceededÏto€discuss€and€apply€òòLowryóó€because€six€of€the€seven€certificates€in€that€case€were€inÐ €Ð Ðexistence€prior€to€January1,€1989.€€òòNicholsóó,€856€S.W.2d€at€399.€€More€recently,€this€courtÐ `° Ðinterpreted€the€foregoing€provision€and€held€that,€despite€the€use€of€the€term€ð ðconclusiveÏevidence,ðð€the€amended€statute€did€not€foreclose€all€attacks€on€accounts€designated€asÏjoint€accounts€with€right€of€survivorship.€€òòIn€re€Estate€of€Holmesóó,€No.Ð P Ð02A01-9707-PB-00158,€1998€WL€134333€(Tenn.€App.€Mar.26,€1998).€€Relying€on€òòNicholsóó,Ð à0 Ðwe€reasoned:ÌœñTñÓÓñTñ›ñTñÓÓñTñà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àBefore€dealing€with€[the]€issues,€the€court€would€like€toÏclarify€what€law€it€considers€to€be€applicable€and€what€law€itÏconsiders€to€be€inapplicable.€€Claimant€relies€heavily€uponÏsome€of€the€language€of€T.C.A.€ðð45-2-703(e)(1)€(1993),Ïwherein€she€contends€that€where€there€is€language€in€a€jointÏaccount€card€designating€ð ðjoint€tenant€with€right€ofÏsurvivorshipðð€or€language€similar€thereto,€as€stated€inÏsubsection€(e)(1)€it€ð ðshall€be€òòconclusive€evidenceóó€in€any€actionÐ 0*€%( Ðor€proceeding€of€the€intentions€of€all€named€that€title€vests€inÏthe€survivor.ðð€€(emphasis€supplied).€€We€are€of€the€opinion€thatÏclaimantððs€reliance€upon€this€statute€is€misplaced.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àFirst€of€all,€it€has€been€held€by€the€eastern€section€ofÏthis€court€that€T.C.A.€ðð45-2-703€was€initially€enacted€for€theÏprotection€of€the€bank,€absolving€a€bank€of€liability€upon€itsÏpayment€to€either€joint€tenant€or€the€survivor.€€òòSeeóó€òòLeffewv.Ð °1-0 ÐMayesóó,€685€S.W.2d€288,€291€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984).Р2ð-1` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThis€code€section€was€revisited€by€our€supreme€court€œinÐ €4Ð/3 ÐòòIn›€re€Estate€of€Nicholsóó,€856€S.W.2d€397€(Tenn.€1993).€€InÐ p5À04 ÐòòNicholsóó€the€court€considered€the€ownership€of€sevenÐ `6°15 Ðcertificates€of€deposit€issued€to€joint€tenants€with€right€ofÏsurvivorship.€€Six€were€issued€prior€to€the€effective€date€of€[theÏ1989€amendment€to€section€45-2-703],€while€one€was€issuedÏafter€its€effective€date.€€In€holding€that€the€first€six€were€to€beÐ  :p59 Ðconstrued€in€light€of€the€law€as€established€in€òòLowryv.€Lowryóó,Ð ° Ð541€S.W.2d€128€(Tenn.€1976),€and€one€in€accordance€with€theÏamendment€to€ðð45-2-703,€the€court€did€not€suggest€that€theÏword€ð ðconclusiveðð€in€the€1989€amendment€foreclosed€any€andÏall€attacks€on€the€questions€of€intent€and€ownership.€€TheÏsupreme€court€noted€that€the€òòLowryóó€court€held€that€ð ð[a]bsentÐ ` ° Ðclear€and€convincing€evidence€of€contrary€intent€expressed€atÏthe€time€of€its€execution,...€clear€and€unambiguous€languageððÏon€a€bankððs€signature€card€is€sufficient€proof€of€the€jointÏaccount€and€the€surviving€tenantððs€ownership€of€the€proceeds.€ÏòòLowryóó,€541€S.W.2d€at€132.Ð` ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€[òòNicholsóó]€court€further€noted€that€òòLowryóó€also€stoodÐ ð@  Ðfor€the€proposition€that€ð ð[t]he€establishment€of€a€joint€bankÏaccount€creating€a€joint€tenancy€with€right€of€survivorship€inÏclear€and€unambiguous€language€is€subject€to€the€parolÏevidence€rule€and€is€generally€immune€from€attack€òòin€theÐ ° Ðabsence€of€fraud,€misrepresentation,€duress,€undue€influence,Ïmutual€mistake,€and€incapacityóó.[ðð]€€òòNicholsóó,€856€S.W.2d€at€400Ð à Ð(citing€òòLowryóó,€541€S.W.2d€at€133)€(emphasis€supplied).ЀÐ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€[òòNicholsóó]€court€found€that€there€was€ð ðno€evidenceÐ `° Ðof€fraud€or€other€circumstances€that€would€vitiate€theÏagreements.ðð€€òòNicholsóó,€856€S.W.2d€at€400....€€In€essence€theÐ @ Ð[òòNicholsóó]€court€found€that€where€there€is€no€evidence€in€theÐ 0€ Ðrecord€addressing€such€claims€as€fraud,€undue€influence€orÏlack€of€capacity,€ðð45-2-703(e)(1)€will€provide€conclusiveÏevidence€of€intention€of€the€parties.€€Otherwise,€the€rules€laidÏÔ& À Ôdown€in€òòLowryóó€and€acknowledged€in€òòNicholsóó€remain€the€law.Ðð@` x` x ÐÌÓÓòòHolmesóó,€1998€WL€134333,€at€*2.Ô'Àði0ÔÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àOur€opinion€in€òòHolmesóó€suggests€that€any€changes€in€the€law€effected€by€sectionÐ $à" Ð45-2-703(e)(1)€are€subtle€ones.€€Arguably,€the€rule€set€forth€in€òòLowryóó€makes€it€easier€for€aÐ p&À!$ Ðparty€to€attack€such€a€joint€account€by€presenting€evidence€that€the€creator€of€the€accountÏdid€not€really€intend€to€create€an€account€with€survivorship€rights,€while€the€rule€set€forthÏin€section€45-2-703(e)(1)€requires€a€showing€of€œa›€œmore€substantial€claim,€such€as›€fraud,Ïundue€influence,€œor€lack›€of€œcapacity.›€€Nevertheless,€we€find€it€unnecessary€to€elaborateÏfurther€on€any€distinctions€between€the€law€as€set€forth€in€òòLowryóó€and€that€set€forth€in€theÐ Ð/ +. Ðamended€statute.€€As€discussed€below,€we€conclude€that,€regardless€of€which€standardÏapplies,€the€Petitionerððs€attack€on€the€joint€account€created€in€this€case€must€fail€becauseÏthe€record€fails€to€contain€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€Decedent€did€not€intendÏto€create€a€joint€account€with€right€of€survivorship.ÌÐ 09€48 Ðà  àIn€claiming€that€the€Decedent€did€not€intend€to€create€a€joint€account€with€right€ofÏsurvivorship,€the€Petitioner€relied€primarily€on€(1)the€Wifeððs€testimony€as€to€the€purposeÏin€creating€the€joint€account€on€May12,€1995,€and€(2)the€circumstances€surrounding€theÏDecedentððs€execution€of€his€will€on€May24,€1995.€€With€regard€to€the€purpose€for€creatingÏthe€joint€account,€the€Wife€gave€the€following€testimony:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àNow,€tell€me€about€the€day€that€you€signed€these€cards.€Ð `  ÐWhat€was€the€purpose€for€adding€your€name€to€the€account?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àIt€was„„€We€got€married.€€It€was€just€something€we€didÐ à0  Ðbecause€we€got€married....Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àWell,€did€you€know€up€there€that€day€that€you€wereÐ ° Ðsigning€this€account€called€joint€tenants€with€right€ofÏsurvivorship?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àIt€wasnððt€something€that„€you€know,€that€I€requested.€Ð pÀ ÐWe€told€them€we€had€gotten€married,€we€needed€to€convert€theÏaccount€to€joint,€and€the€guy€did€the€paperwork.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àYou€said€that„€you€told€him€that€you€needed€to€createÐ 0€ Ða€joint€account?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àWell,€we€had€gotten€married€and€they„€we€needed€toÐ P Ðconvert€it€to€joint€or„€I€donððt„€I€really€canððt€recall€my€exactÏwords.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àBut€now€do€you€remember€if€the€words€joint€tenants€withÐ À! Ðright€of€survivorship€was€mentioned€that€day?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àNo,€I€donððt€recall.Ð$à"` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àDid€you€and€John€know€what€joint€tenants€with€right€ofÐ p&À!$ Ðsurvivorship€was?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àI€donððt€think€so,€I€donððt€think€it€ever€was€an€issue.Ð@)$'` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àI€mean,€now€you€testified€in€your€deposition€that€for€sureÐ  +p&) Ðyou€didnððt„€that€John€did€not€know€what€right€of€survivorshipÏwas?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àI€believe€that€inasfar€as€signing€the€signature€cards,€itÐ à.0*- Ðwas€not„€we€didnððt€go€to€the€person,€Iððm€quite€sure,€and€say,Ïwe€need€joints€with„€you€know,€right€to€survivorship,€we€toldÏthem€we€got€married.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àAnd€then€that€person€didnððt€bring€it€up€and€you€all€didnððtÐ 3à.2 Ðbring€up€survivorship?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àI€donððt€believe€so.Ð`6°15` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àAnd€you€testified€in€your€deposition€though€that€youÐ @837 Ðdidnððt€know€what€joint€tenants€with€right€of€survivorship€was,Ïnor€did€John?Ð :p59` x` x Їà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àWe€werenððt€aware€of€it€in€that„€I€guess€in€that€context,Ð ° Ðit€didnððt„€it€wasnððt„€it€wasnððt€a€point€of€focus€for€us.€Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓÌà  àThe€Petitioner€contends€that€the€foregoing€testimony€reveals€that€the€Decedent€hadÏno€intention€of€creating€a€joint€account€with€right€of€survivorship.€€The€Petitioner€additionallyÏcontends€that€the€circumstances€surrounding€the€Decedentððs€execution€of€his€will€belie€anyÏintent€to€create€a€joint€account€with€right€of€survivorship.€€When€the€Decedent€executed€hisÏwill€twelve€days€after€creating€the€joint€account,€he€attempted€to€make€bequests€to€variousÏfriends€and€relatives€totaling€$85,000.€€œWithout›€the€funds€contained€in€the€joint€checkingÏaccount,€however,€the€Decedentððs€estate€lacked€sufficient€funds€to€satisfy€all€of€theÏbequests.€€œBased›€on€this€evidence,€the€Petitioner€argues€that€the€Decedent€must€haveÏbelieved€the€funds€in€the€First€American€Bank€account€to€be€his€individual€funds€whichÏwould€become€part€of€his€estate€rather€than€funds€which€would€pass€directly€to€the€WifeÏupon€his€death.€ÌÌà  àAlthough€the€trial€court€apparently€found€this€proof€to€be€persuasive€evidence€of€theÏDecedentððs€intent,€or€lack€thereof,€in€creating€the€joint€checking€account,€we€conclude€thatÏthe€evidence€fails€to€rise€to€the€level€of€clear€and€convincing€evidence€required€to€preventÏthe€funds€from€passing€directly€to€the€Wife.€€When€a€husband€and€wife€create€a€joint€bankÏaccount,€the€law€presumes€that€they€have€created€a€tenancy€by€the€entirety€carrying€withÏit€the€right€of€survivorship.€€òòGrahlv.€œDavisóó,€971€S.W.2d€373,€378€(Tenn.€1998);›€òòEdwardsv.Ð @)$' ÐEdwardsóó,€713€S.W.2d€642,€647€(Tenn.€1986),€òòcert.€deniedóó,€479€U.S.€1024€(1987);€òòGriffinv.Ð  +p&) ÐPrinceóó,€632€S.W.2d€532,€536„37€(Tenn.€1982);€òòSloanv.€Jonesóó,€241€S.W.2d€506,€€508„09Ð -P(+ Ð(Tenn.€1951).€€Thus,€absent€evidence€that€they€intended€to€create€a€different€type€of€jointÏaccount,€the€husband€and€wife€own€the€funds€in€the€account€as€tenants€by€the€entirety.€Ð À0,/ ÐòòGrahlv.€œDavisóó,€971€S.W.2dñ"Tñ€ñ"Tññ#Tñ€atñ#Tññ"Tñ373,ñ"Tñ€378;›€òòEdwardsv.€Edwardsóó,€713€S.W.2d€at€647;€òòGriffinv.Ð  2ð-1 ÐPrinceóó,€632€S.W.2d€at€536„37;€òòSloanv.€Jonesóó,€241€S.W.2d€at€510.€€Upon€the€death€of€oneÐ €4Ð/3 Ðspouse,€ownership€of€the€funds€ð ðimmediately€vests€in€the€survivor,€and€the€laws€of€descentÏand€distribution€do€not€apply.ðð€€òòGrahlv.€œDavisóó,€971€S.W.2dñ$Tñ€ñ$Tññ%Tñ€atñ%Tññ$Tñ373,ñ$Tñ€378.›Ð @837 ÐÐ  :p59 Ðà  àHere,€the€Wife€testified€that€neither€she€nor€the€Husband€discussed€any€survivorshipÏrights€associated€with€the€account€they€were€creating.€€œñTñ(Tr.€vol.€II,€pp.€59„63).€€ñTñAny›€lack€of€intent€which€thisÏtestimony€might€exhibit,€however,€is€not€dispositive€because€the€law€presumes€that€theyÏcreated€a€specific€type€of€joint€account€with€right€of€survivorship,€òòi.e.óó€a€tenancy€by€theÐ P   Ðentirety.€€Although€the€Decedent€and€the€Wife€might€not€have€discussed€this€issue€prior€toÏcreating€the€joint€account,€we€find€it€significant€that€the€evidence€surrounding€their€creationÏof€the€account€does€not€reveal€a€contrary€intent.€€For€example,€the€record€contains€noÏevidence€that€the€Decedent€and€the€Wife€intended€to€create€a€different€type€of€joint€accountÏhaving€no€right€of€survivorship.€€Inasmuch€as€the€record€is€silent€on€this€issue,€andÏinasmuch€as€the€signature€card€indicates€that€the€joint€account€is€one€with€survivorshipÏrights,€we€must€presume€that€the€Decedent€and€the€Wife€intended€to€create€such€anÏaccount.ÌÌà  àWe€also€are€unable€to€conclude€that€the€circumstances€surrounding€the€DecedentððsÏexecution€of€his€will€constitute€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€Decedent€intendedÏto€create€something€other€than€a€joint€account€with€right€of€survivorship.€€The€evidence€wasÏundisputed€that,€on€the€day€prior€to€the€Decedentððs€execution€of€the€will,€the€Wife€informedÏhim€that€he€did€not€have€enough€money€to€satisfy€the€bequests€proposed€in€the€will.€€œBoth›Ïthe€Wife€and€the€Petitioner€testified€that€such€a€conversation€took€place.€€œDespite›€beingÏadvised€of€the€shortage,€the€Decedent€executed€the€will€the€next€day€after€assuring€hisÏattorney€that€the€will€conformed€with€his€wishes.€€œAlthough›€the€evidence€is€unclear€as€toÏwhy€the€Decedent€insisted€on€signing€his€will€after€being€advised€of€the€shortfall,€thisÏundisputed€testimony€tends€to€support,€rather€than€to€undermine,€the€conclusion€that€theÏDecedent€knew€the€funds€in€the€joint€account€would€not€become€part€of€his€estate.€ÏMoreover,€even€without€the€funds€in€the€joint€account,€the€Decedent€still€had€significantÏfunds€totaling€at€least€$68,151.11,€including€$57,211.65€in€a€Charles€Schwab€investmentÏaccount€and€$10,939.46€in€a€bank€account€bearing€the€name€of€his€brother,€PeterF.ÏPawlakos.€œUnder›€these€circumstances,€we€conclude€that€the€bequests€set€forth€in€theÏDecedentððs€will€do€not€constitute€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€Decedent€intendedÐ 09€48 Ðfor€the€funds€in€the€joint€account€to€become€part€of€his€estate€rather€than€to€pass€directlyÏto€his€surviving€spouse.ÌÌà  àIn€any€event,€even€if€the€Decedent€and€the€Wife€did€not€intend€to€create€a€jointÏaccount€with€right€of€survivorship,€this€fact€would€have€no€bearing€on€the€Wifeððs€receipt€ofÏthe€bulk€of€the€funds€from€the€joint€account.€€It€was€undisputed€that€the€Decedent€signedÏthe€$60,000€check€in€favor€of€the€Wife,€and€there€is€no€contention€that€this€signature€wasÏobtained€by€fraud€or€undue€influence.€€Because€the€Decedent€transferred€these€funds€toÏthe€Wife€during€his€lifetime,€any€discussion€regarding€their€disposition€after€the€DecedentððsÏdeath€becomes€irrelevant.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€òòIn€re€Estate€of€Haynesóó,€835€S.W.2d€19,€20„21€(Tenn.Ð à ÐApp.€1992).ÌÌà  àIn€asking€this€court€to€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€in€its€entirety,€the€PetitionerÏcites€testimony€in€the€record€wherein€the€Decedentððs€relatives€criticized€the€Wife€for€theÏmanner€in€which€she€cared€for€the€Decedent€in€his€final€days€and€for€the€manner€in€whichÏshe€handled€the€Decedentððs€finances€prior€to€and€after€his€death.€ñTñœñTñ€€We€question€the€legalÏrelevance€of€this€testimony,€however,€because€the€Petitioner€does€not€contend€that€theÏWife€obtained€the€disputed€funds€by€fraud€or€undue€influence.€€œInstead,›€the€PetitionerÏinsists€that€the€record€contains€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€Decedent€did€notÏintend€to€create€a€joint€account€with€right€of€survivorship.€ñTñœñTñ€Inasmuch€as€the€record€containsÏscant€evidence€to€support€such€a€claim,€we€hold€that€the€Petitionerððs€argument€with€regardÏto€the€funds€in€the€joint€account€must€fail€and€that€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€must€beÏreversed€as€to€this€issue.ÌÌà@E E ìàÔ&   ÔòòIII.€€Funds€from€the€Peter€Pawlakos€AccountóóˆÐ °1-0 ÐÌà  àWe€reach€a€different€result€with€regard€to€the€funds€in€the€Peter€Pawlakos€account.€Ô' °1¢]ÔÏIn€essence,€the€Wife€admitted€that€the€funds€in€the€Peter€Pawlakos€account€belonged€toÏthe€Decedent€and€that,€unlike€the€other€account€at€issue,€the€account€was€not€jointly€ownedÐ 09€48 Ðby€her€and€the€Decedent.€€œWe›€believe€that€this€admission€provides€a€sufficient€basis€for€theÏtrial€courtððs€order€requiring€the€Wife€to€return€these€funds€to€the€Decedentððs€estate.ÌÌà  àOn€appeal,€the€Wife€contends€that€these€funds€were€gifts€from€the€Decedent€duringÏhis€lifetime.€€œThis›€appears€to€be€a€credibility€issue€which€the€trial€court€resolved€against€theÏWife€and€in€favor€of€the€Petitioner.€€In€light€of€the€Wifeððs€acknowledgment€that€she€signedÏPeter€Pawlakosððs€name€on€the€checks,€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€does€notÏpreponderate€against€the€trial€courtððs€implicit€finding€that€the€funds€were€not€gifts€from€theÏDecedent.€€òòSeeóó€T.R.A.P.€13(d).Ð ° ÐÌà  àWe€likewise€reject€the€Wifeððs€contention€that€the€Peter€Pawlakos€account€cannotÏproperly€be€considered€part€of€the€Decedentððs€estate€because€the€account€was€not€in€theÏDecedentððs€name.€€As€previously€indicated,€the€Wife€acknowledged€that€the€funds€in€theÏPeter€Pawlakos€account€belonged€to€the€Decedent.€€œAccordingly,›€she€cannot€now€be€heardÏto€complain€that€the€funds€do€not€belong€to€the€Decedentððs€estate.ÌÌà@II#ìàÔ&   ÔòòIV.€€ConclusionóóˆÐ °"  ÐÌà  àWe€reverse€that€portion€of€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€requiring€the€WifeÔ' °"¿cÔ€to€returnÏfunds€totaling€$69,517.75€from€the€Wifeððs€and€the€Decedentððs€joint€account€at€FirstÏAmerican€Bank.€€In€all€other€respects,€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€is€hereby€affirmed,€and€thisÏcause€is€remanded€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Costs€on€appealÏare€taxed€to€the€Petitioner,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€œnecessary.ñ TñÌñ TñÌñTñ›ñTññTñÌñTñÓÓà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð °1-0 Ðóóà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àHIGHERS,€J.Ð  2ð-1 ÐÌCONCUR:ÌñTñÌñTñÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ `6°15 ÐCRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.ÌñTñÌñTñÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ 09€48 ÐLILLARD,€J.ñ!TñÐ  :p59 Ðñ!Tñ›