Patsy Jean Meador Carnes v. Florence Meador

This suit for a declaratory judgment is between Ray D. Meadors widow, Florence Meador, as plaintiff, and his daughter by a former marriage, Patsy Jean Meador Carnes, as defendant. Three items of personal property are involved, all of which the widow (individually or as administratrix) claims as community property. The first two items are a $15,000 certificate of deposit and a $9,000 checking account, both in the name of "Ray D. Meador or Patsy Jean Meador Carnes." The third item is a $10,000 gift from the checking account which the deceased made two months before his death to the defendant daughters husband. The defendant, after entering an unsuccessful plea in abatement, claimed all the property on three theories: Gift, joint tenancy with right of survivorship, and third-party beneficiary contract. The trial court awarded all three items to the widow. The daughter appeals.