my girlfriend took all my money from "our" joint account?

Question

my girlfriend took all my money from our account and dissapeared with another guy. She hit and ran my truck before leaving. Her checks go in direct deposit and she gets paid on the first. For the first time in 2 weeks she calls me saying to leave her money alone because she didn't have time to switch accounts. She screws me over and leaves me unable to pay my bills. So the question is, should i give her a taste of her own medicine and take what is really my money back, or leave the bee hive alone?

great answers guys. ONE MORE THING. can i take my name off a joint account without her consent?

Answer 1

A joint account is just that. Half of that money is yours, so I would take it since she decided to take yours

Answer 2

Take only the amount you are entitled to as this will protect you legally. Since the account is a 'joint account' you both have full access but that doesn't entitle you to funds that are not your and the same is true for her.

First calculate how much of the money that was removed from the account by her was actually rightfully yours. Now you have a number of the amount she 'stole' from you. This number is a good hard number that should be easily defendable in court. Then determine the 'soft amount' which includes things like rent/utilities/etc. that you two had agreed to split and divide that number by two (to get her portion). Add the soft number to the hard number and have caclulated the full amount due from her. So... let's say she absconded with $2,500. You determine that $1,000 of that was totally yours $500 was 'jointly acquired'. This gives you a 'hard number' of $1,250. You then caclulate that reamining rent for the month and the utilties for the month comes to $400 of which she is responsible for half so the soft number comes to $200. So combined you have a total $1,450 that she 'owes you'.

If her check is under this amount then you are entitled to withdraw it all. If it's over this amount, then you are entitled to withdraw ONLY $1,450. I would suggest that you open another account in the same bank in just your name and then establish an electronic connection (user id) that can manage both (we use compass bank and it allows us to do that). Then start watching the account TODAY as some times the direct deposits get posted a day early and show up as available before the day it is actually posted. The AS SOON AS YOU SEE IT SHOW UP, transfer the correct amount.

Good luck and I'm sorry for your troubles. Just remember if you guys have been living together for a while there is a possiblity that you are common law married and if so this could get really ugly... thus... you really need to insure you take only what is yours.

And yes, you can remove your name from the account.. but only after to take what is yours out! If the amount you remove doesn't cover all that is due you, I suggest you leave your name on the account just in case she is stupid enough not to stop the next deposit!

Answer 3

I would only take the same amount she took from you. Then I would get my name off of the account. People never, never open a joint account with anybody. If you do make sure you both also have separate accounts. That way you each have your own money and can use the joint account to save for things you both want. There is still the possibility of your partner running off with the money in the joint account but at least you still have your own personal account.

Answer 4

It's a joint account, and she took advantage to screw you over. I think you should take your money back. There is no other way to get it back from her (how are you going to go into court to prove that the money she took was yours?)

First be honest--was it your money she took, or was it both of yours? When you tell the story to your friends, are they responding with something like "that crazy biatch" or are they shaking their heads and saying "that sucks". If you get the first response, it probably is your money. If you get the second, they are trying to be supportive but aren't willing to take sides--if that's the case, you need to think hard about whether it is your money or not.

In the end, if you honestly think she took your money, you should clean that account out after her deposit hits. When she has a problem with that, figure out what money belongs to who together (preferably over the internet so you don't have to have yet another fight in person) and make that part of the situation right.

It sounds like she took advantage of the joint account to screw you and now realizes that you can do the same to her, only worse. I think you should hold her money hostage to get to a fair situation--but don't try to steal from her. And if your deposits go to that account, fix that now!

Answer 5

First, dig up your banking records to show your personal deposits, withdrawals, etc. Calculate exactly how much she owes you based on how much of the money in the account was contributed by you, and how much by her. If it comes to some sort of legal argument, you will have records to justify your actions.

Next, take what is owed you out of the account and move it to another account. Make sure the new account is at a different bank. I would also suggest going to the bank in person and withdrawing the money as cash, rather than use a check, this will further hide your actions.

Answer 6

I would just withdraw what she took of yours. And then after you do I would get your name off the account and start your own. I would also file a report about your truck. I would make her pay for any damage even if it is five bucks! She really screwed you over and that sucks. I would just file a report, get your money back and call it good. I would not take more money out of the account of hers. Don't stoop that low like she did. Take whats yours and let her go! She obviously doesn't deserve you. Good luck.

Answer 7

Take all of it and give her a taste of her own medicine. Show her that you are not a weakling. Get a own account for yourself and deposit the money in there. Be sure not to repeat the same mistake.

Answer 8

Take whats rightfully yours then close the account. I'm not sure how it works, but call the bank. See if you can get your name off the account or close the account. If you have direct deposit, contact your employer immedatly and tell them to cancel the direct deposit to that account. You may have to get checks for a while from your employer until you get it setup in another account she cannot touch.

Answer 9

And you are asking us this because? If you don't take back what was rightfully yours to begin with you are the fool for letting it happen! She knew you were a sucker that's why she took your money in the first place, and now she knows she has got you wrapped around your finger and that's why she knows you want touch that money. My advice is to take the money and close the account, ASAP! Any more questions?

Answer 10

since she took your money the money that goes into your account is yours i say you leave the money alone get all of your documents togethher as proof that she took all of the money and left you unable to pay the bills and make sure you take pictures of the car and take her *** to court. you will get way more money than she took from you and she caused you in damages. she didnt care about you at all so why should you have even a little sympathy for her. what she did is illegal

Answer 11

absolutely, a joint account is a joint account. When the money is in-take what is yours-meaning take back what she took from you and nothing more. Make sure you have your own account set up that she can't get into.