Kennemer v. Fort Worth Community Credit Union

# Kennemer v. Fort Worth Community Credit Union: Plain English Summary **What Happened** Billie Kennemer and a spouse jointly owned accounts at Fort Worth Community Credit Union. When Billie passed away, the credit union paid approximately $97,000 from the accounts to the surviving spouse. Someone (likely a family member) disputed this decision, arguing the surviving spouse shouldn't have received the money. **What the Court Decided** The court sided with the credit union. The court confirmed that when Billie and the spouse signed a survivorship agreement—a document stating that surviving account owners inherit the money—that agreement applied to all accounts under their membership, including accounts opened later. Therefore, the credit union properly transferred the $97,000 to the surviving spouse. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows how important survivorship agreements are for your accounts and assets. If you want your spouse, family member, or someone else to automatically receive your money after you die, you need the right paperwork in place. Without a survivorship agreement, your assets may not go to your intended beneficiary. Review your bank and credit union accounts to ensure you have the right beneficiary designations.