Section 5203 Of Chapter 2. General Provisions From California Probate Code >> Division 5. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 2.
5203
. (a) Words in substantially the following form in a signature
card, passbook, contract, or instrument evidencing an account, or
words to the same effect, executed before, on, or after July 1, 1990,
create the following accounts:
(1) Joint account: "This account or certificate is owned by the
named parties. Upon the death of any of them, ownership passes to the
survivor(s)."
(2) P.O.D. account with single party: "This account or certificate
is owned by the named party. Upon the death of that party, ownership
passes to the named pay-on-death payee(s)."
(3) P.O.D. account with multiple parties: "This account or
certificate is owned by the named parties. Upon the death of any of
them, ownership passes to the survivor(s). Upon the death of all of
them, ownership passes to the named pay-on-death payee(s)."
(4) Joint account of husband and wife with right of survivorship:
"This account or certificate is owned by the named parties, who are
husband and wife, and is presumed to be their community property.
Upon the death of either of them, ownership passes to the survivor."
(5) Community property account of husband and wife: "This account
or certificate is the community property of the named parties who are
husband and wife. The ownership during lifetime and after the death
of a spouse is determined by the law applicable to community property
generally and may be affected by a will."
(6) Tenancy in common account: "This account or certificate is
owned by the named parties as tenants in common. Upon the death of
any party, the ownership interest of that party passes to the named
pay-on-death payee(s) of that party or, if none, to the estate of
that party."
(b) Use of the form language provided in this section is not
necessary to create an account that is governed by this part. If the
contract of deposit creates substantially the same relationsip
between the parties as an account created using the form language
provided in this section, this part applies to the same extent as if
the form language had been used.