Who is responsible for bounced checks on a joint account?
My husband opened a checking account with his sister when she was 17, she is now almost 19 and has been bouncing a lot of checks. Some one told my husband that he would be responsible since he is the primary person on the account and that he could be arrested if she didn’t take care of them. My husband has never used the account his name is only on it because she couldn’t open one herself. Does any one know if he will be held responsible or will it come back on her? Thank you.
Tagged with: checking account • checks
Filed under: General Joint Care
If he’s a primary and she’s a secondary, then yes he’s responsible. As far as writing the bad checks, it will come back on her as far as any arrests since she’s the one that actually wrote them, but the financial responsibility remains your husband, meaning if the bank wants the money, they will look to him for it.
His name is on it. He is partly responsible.
Sorry
Actually, the person who signed the contract or the check is responsible if she is over the age of 18.
She signed the checks. She is responsible for the payment but you husband may be responsible for all bank charges.
Your husband would be, with a lot of bounced checks he could also be reported to Chex Systems which could prevent him from being able to open accounts elsewhere. Since she is now old enough to open an account on her own, he should close out that and have her open her own.
Why is he still on the account? Is he a glutton for punishment? Have him go to the bank and have his name removed. Yes, they can go after him for the money if she doesn’t pay. I don’t think they can arrest him as he never wrote a check, but his credit can be ruined. Does he want to wait until she owes thousands of dollars. Have him go in and get his name off of the account.
Your Husband is. He needs to "cut his Sister loose"- to face Her OWN financial Responsibilities… She’s Old enough (legally- anyway…).