Joint Bank Account Dispute

Summary

In Massachusetts, both parties on a joint bank account have equal access to the funds. However, during divorce proceedings, a court may consider it inappropriate for one spouse to withdraw all the funds. You may be able to request temporary orders for support. Consult a local attorney for specific advice.

Full Conversation

I am currently married however my spouse has left and in doing so she emptied are joint bank account.
Hello ****, I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Could you please tell me the state or country you reside in? This will help me provide accurate information as laws vary by location.
I now do not have funds to pay our joint bills, can I charge them?
Hello ****, I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Could you please tell me the state or country you reside in? This will help me provide accurate information as laws vary by location.
I live in massachusetts
I'm sorry to hear about your situation, ****. In Massachusetts:
- You may be able to request temporary orders for support during divorce proceedings.
- It's generally not advisable to charge your spouse without proper legal guidance.
You should consult a local attorney for specific advice.
Understood, but have they done anything illegal by withdrawing all the funds from our joint bank account
In Massachusetts, with respect to joint bank accounts:
- If both parties' names are on the account, technically both have equal access to the funds.
- However, during a divorce, a court may consider it inappropriate.
- It's advisable to consult with a divorce attorney for specific advice.