Sign In
Events
Newsletters
Search

Close

Close Search

Cancel

SEARCH
MY LAW.COMNEW

McKeehan v. McKeehan

Three weeks prior to his death, Dale McKeehan and his wife, appellant Marcia McKeehan, executed a change request form to add her as joint owner of his interest in Ford Motor Credit Co.'s Ford Interest Advantage investment program. In subsequent probate court proceedings, Dale McKeehan's children from a previous marriage, appellees Mark Cameron McKeehan and Robin Leigh Mullenix, successfully argued in a cross-motion for summary judgment that Marcia McKeehan's joint ownership of the Ford investment held no survivorship rights under Texas law, and thus, the Ford investment should pass to Dale McKeehan's testamentary beneficiaries as part of his probate estate. The Ford investment program is subject to a valid choice-of-law provision requiring that Michigan law be used to govern and construe the Ford investment program. Under Michigan law Marcia McKeehan and Dale McKeehan held the Ford investment as joint tenants with right of survivorship. The trial court's summary judgment is reversed and rendered that ownership of the Ford investment passed to Marcia McKeehan as the surviving joint owner. Austin Court of Appeals, No. 03-10-00025-CV, 07-06-2011.

X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

OPINION

Three weeks prior to his death, Dale McKeehan and his wife, appellant Marcia McKeehan, executed a change request form to add her as joint owner of his interest in Ford Motor Credit Company’s Ford Interest Advantage investment program. In subsequent probate court proceedings regarding his estate, Dale McKeehan’s children from a previous marriage, appellees Mark Cameron McKeehan and Robin Leigh Mullenix, successfully argued in a cross-motion for summary judgment that Marcia McKeehan’s joint ownership of the Ford investment held no survivorship rights under Texas law, and thus, the Ford investment should pass to Dale McKeehan’s testamentary beneficiaries as part of his probate estate. Because we hold that the Ford investment program is subject to a valid choice-of-law provision requiring that Michigan law be used to govern and construe the Ford investment program, and because under Michigan law Marcia McKeehan and Dale McKeehan held the Ford investment as joint tenants with right of survivorship, we will reverse the trial court’s summary judgment and render judgment that ownership of the Ford investment passed to Marcia McKeehan as the surviving joint owner.

Trending Stories

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

LEARN MORE

More From ALM

Premium Subscription
With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Team Accounts
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Bundle Subscriptions
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
Go to CLE Center
British Legal Awards 2024
November 27, 2024
London

Celebrating achievement, excellence, and innovation in the legal profession in the UK.


Learn More
GlobeSt. Healthcare Real Estate 2024
December 02, 2024 - December 03, 2024
Scottsdale, AZ

Join the industry's top owners, investors, developers, brokers and financiers for the real estate healthcare event of the year!


Learn More
ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES Awards 2024
December 11, 2024
Las Vegas, NV

This event shines a spotlight on how individuals and firms are changing the investment advisory industry where it matters most.


Learn More
Go to Events Go to Webcasts
Two Litigation Associate - Melville, NY and New York, NY (2 to 7 Years experience)

Prominent law firm seeks 2 associates to join our defense teams in our downtown New York City and Melville, NY offices.The Litigation Associ...


Apply Now ›
Seattle, WA Litigation Counsel

Description: Fox Rothschild has an opening for a Litigation Counsel in our Seattle office. Experience with insurance bad faith and coverage ...


Apply Now ›
Civil Litigation Attorney - New York

Robert C. Gottlieb & Associates PLLC is a 40-year-old litigation boutique looking to hire a civil attorney who has concentrated in civil...


Apply Now ›
Go to Lawjobs

Breaking news and trends for law firm and legal departments about the evolving federal regulations in a volatile political climate.

Federal Legal News
Special Coverage
Surveys & Rankings
National Law Journal