Wesley Kennemer, Independent of the Estate of Loren Smith Bartoo v. Fort Worth Community Credit Union

**Court Rules on Credit Union Account After Employee's Death** This case involved a dispute over money in a credit union account after an employee died. Wesley Kennemer, representing the estate of Loren Smith Bartoo (a deceased employee), sued Fort Worth Community Credit Union. The estate claimed the credit union wrongly gave account funds to Bartoo's surviving spouse instead of distributing them according to Bartoo's will or estate plans. The court sided with the credit union. The judge ruled that a survivorship agreement on Bartoo's membership card applied to all accounts linked to his membership number, including the disputed account. This meant the credit union was legally required to pay the money directly to the surviving spouse, regardless of what Bartoo's will or estate documents said about those funds. **What this means for workers:** If you have accounts at a credit union or bank with survivorship agreements, those agreements typically override instructions in your will. The money will automatically go to the named survivor, not through your estate. Workers should review their account agreements and beneficiary designations to ensure their money goes where they intend after death. Consider consulting with financial advisors about how different account types handle inheritance.