Is a husband allowed to withdraw all savings from a 'Joint' bank account with his wife?

Question

I ask this because my Mam had a nasty shock this evening. My Mam and Dad have had a joint savings account for over 30 years since they got married, although Mam's name is on the account, Dad keeps the bank books and treats it like his own rather than 'theirs'. Mam has always had to ask 'permission' to use it before she could spend any of it and because of this, she never does.

Anyway, this evening, she decides to go looking for the bank book that Dad hides. She found 2 bank books. The joint account and also a brand new account that Dad opened in January.
What shocked her was that he has removed the £13,000 savings from the joint account and put it in this new personal account he opened leaving only a few hundred in the joint account.

Mam would still not know anything about this if she hadn't looked for the bank book tonight.

Is Dad allowed to remove a large amount of money from their joint account without Mams permission also? She's really upset.

Thanks very much for your replies, yep thats what I thought, don't think she'll be too happy to hear this.
She has decided that dad either put the money back into the joint account or she's going to tell EVERYONE who knows him, the truth about what he's really like (not the fake him he portrays in public) this would probably terrify him. He puts on such a good show, I doubt anyone would belive her though. If this fails she's going to divorce him as it may be the only chance she ever has of getting her share of the money back. Thanks everyone.

My Mam has gone to the bank today, somehow she managed to keep her mouth shut last night, ranting and raving won't do her any favours.
I guess my Mam did wrongly trust my Dad but then after 30 years, she had no reason to think he'd ever do this.
He's an arsehole but even I didn't think he'd do this.
She's gonna have to get some backbone for the first time in their marriage and stand up for herself on this one i'm afraid, she should have done it a long time ago and it might have stopped him behaving like a selfish child the last 30 years. I think this will finally be the thing that stops her being a doormat for once. She's gonna have to do something, this is one thing she can't just accept and grin and bear it but its down to her at the end of the day.
Thanks everyone :-)

Answer 1

I think you mom needs to hide the fact she knows about the money from your dad for a day or two and take those books to the bank and ask to speak to the manager and explain her situation, its more than obvious what your father is up to by taking the money from a joint account to an individual one, hopefully your mom will get this sorted out even if she has to go to a solicitor, good luck.

Answer 2

Mine did. She got a few thousand before she split and then had the nerve to be pissed when l closed it. She ran up credit card bills and even though it was a joint account, she had to pay it off. Love means nothing at separation. It's all a dollar grab then.

Answer 3

I always understood that joint accounts needed both signatures to withdraw such amounts! Although saying this...I think I am right in thinking that some joint accounts either of the account holders can sign/withdraw. Best to get mum to enquire at their bank !!

Answer 4

Yes, anyone on an account can remove any amount from the account at anytime.

Also, while he can't take her name off the account without her permission, he could close the account as a whole without her permission. My bank allowed me to do this when I got married. I had a joint saving account with my dad, I wanted to remove his name & add my husband's, but they wouldn't let me remove any name without their permission. However, I was allowed to close the account & just open a new one without my father's name on it.

Answer 5

my husband and i have a joint account but we have 2 cards for it so we can both withdraw money without the others permission, but there are accounts where you have to have both joint signatures to withdraw money

it sounds like and I'm not saying this has happened that it's either a joint account where either party can withdraw without the others permission which means your mum can't do anything I'm sorry or is there a possibility that your dad could have done your mums signature if it's a joint signature account

Answer 6

Yes, unfortunately your dad is able to do that without your mam's permission or signature but your mam can still call the bank and request another book for herself.
If I was her I would report this incident to her bank and make a big stink about it.
God help her that's disgraceful.

Answer 7

the best answer to this depends on the wording of the account. if it states, Mr John Smith OR Mrs John Smith than either party can take out money without the other persons consent. If the account states Mr & Mrs John Smith, then both signatures are required for any withdraw. She should take out what is left and put in an account with JUST her name on it for safe keeping.

Answer 8

Well she let him be in total control for so long he felt it was perfectly natural for their marraige. No he shouldn't have but she handed over the power a long time ago. Unfortunately money means power in this warped world. Look at the numskulls like oprah and madonna, idiots with power because of $-
She should go to the bank and see if he had the right to do that.

Answer 9

Sure - husband can, or the wife. Unfortunately in this case, it's your mom's fault because women are no longer in the dark ages, and know the state of the family finances. I remember when my mom decided to make the change from being taken care of, to seeing exactly what was what - it was hard, but she was strong and did it. And there was nothing wrong in hers and my dad's relationship, it was simply a matter of keeping up with the times and being realistic in this day and age.
Hope they can work things out.

Answer 10

i'd start preparing mom for being single it sounds like da is preparing for a new life w/out her. the problem is that since both their names were on the account either party can do whatever they want as far as the money goes. i would tell your mom to contact a lawyer and ask this question,just so she knows her rights when and if he decides to take the money and run. she may be able to take him to court but then she'd have to prove that it was a joint account. i feel bad for your mom but your dad sounds like a controlling a s s hole and your mom maybe in for a rough time. take care.