My husband opened a safe deposit box when we were separated. He purchased it using the money from our joint account. He passed away in January, and his mom and brothers went to the safe deposit box during the planning of his funeral. His mom handed me a folder of old documents and said that's all there was in the box. I was shocked. My husband took out a lot of money from our Line of Credit during our separation. My attorney and I believed he stashed the money in the safe deposit box. I finally asked his mom where the safe deposit box was located. She told me. She also told me she handed the key in and closed the account in January. I contacted the bank and found out the account was closed in April. I also found out there was a co-owner on the account. What are my rights? Was it OK for her to go into the safe deposit box right after he died? I believe the money from the Line of Credit was in the box.
It appears that your husband had the right to pull funds from the joint deposit account and line of credit without your permission. He also clearly had the right to open up a safe deposit box and select someone other that you as a co-tenant. Whether you have any legal clout to recover any of the funds that you believe were in the safe deposit box is a matter you will have to discuss with your attorney.
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It appears that your husband had the right to pull funds from the joint deposit account and line of credit without your permission. He also clearly had the right to open up a safe deposit box and select someone other that you as a co-tenant. Whether you have any legal clout to recover any of the funds that you believe were in the safe deposit box is a matter you will have to discuss with your attorney.
