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Need to Change Joint Account: Can't get to Bank
My husband and I have been separated for three years and divorced in May of last year. The joint account we had is solely used by him now, and it is where his social security check is direct deposited. I am still the main account holder, however, since I was the only one who was working at the time we opened the account and I took care of paying all the bills.
Unfortunately, he doesn't manage his money very well and keeps writing old checks at a certain gas station which results in overdrafts near the end of each month. I live in a different state and don't have a branch for this bank anywhere within fifty miles of me. I don't have transportation to go to the next big city that has one. I have called the bank several times asking them for an alternative way to remove my name from the account, but they insist that I have to go to a branch to do this. I am also reluctant to just close the account. My ex-husband and I are still on relatively good terms and I don't want to interfere with his social security payments, but at the same time I don't want to be responsible for his constant overdrafts either. What can I do to release the account to him and be done with this bank for good?
The bank called me this morning to let me know about the overdraft and additional charges for an extended overdraft fee. They asked me for contact information for him, but I honestly don't have any and I have no way of contacting him. I would like to remove my name from the joint account as soon as possible, but I need to be able to do this either by phone or mail. Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
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 In most cases a bank will not remove a name from a joint account. There would be issues if a check you wrote clears any time after your name is removed. Further complicating this is if the check was written when you were on the account, but clears after you are off.
It is cleaner to close the account and open a new one. That is what most banks require. If you got to a branch, this is what you'd be told anyway.
This means that your husband needs to close the account and open a new one so that his deposits can be re-routed accordingly. If you cannot contact him, and none of his checks have the current address, your choices are limited.
1)You are liable on the account for any fees he incurs. Your liability continues until that account is closed, or (not likely) the bank removes your name.
2) You close the account after his deposit hits and there are good funds. Ask the bank to send you a cashier's check payable to your husband. Wait for him to contact you. This way you won't be liable for the account.
Published on BankingQuestions.com 9/15/10
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