Joint account or sole account in marriage

[MummyPencil]

Hello

I am rather curious whose bank account it considered as if:

was in OH name but I was added onto it and have my bank card
Is it joint account or OH individual account ?
Also can the money from that account be spend on daily expenses.: food, fuel etc ?

Thank you

Sounds like a joint account. If you have a card for that account you can spend on anything you want, although I assume you would both agree on what it's used for.

Our joint account was my account first, it is an old account and has good terms and benefits, it's now a joint account, we had to go into the bank and DH was added, we both have full access, cards etc. I have other accounts with the same bank that remain solely in my name and DH does not have access to

It depends. If it is just in your husbands name, can you manage things through internet banking, move money around, set up or cancel standing orders/direct debits etc or do you just have a debit card to it?

If you can't do any of the main functions of an account, I'd consider it his account and you are just an additional card holder.

You'd be a fool to continue with that set up to be honest, you need a proper joint account where you have equal access and equal authority

I think it depends on the context. Does he have a separate individual account in just his name? If yes, then presumably it’s a joint account. Is this his only account and you have your own individual account? Then I’d assume his account but he’s added your name on for convenience.

If a joint account, then I’d say money can be spent on joint expenses but not individual ones, unless your agreement is all money in one pot and no individual accounts.

So for example, Dh and I have a joint account and both have individual an accounts. I would use the joint account to put fuel in our family car and to buy food shopping for the household. I wouldn’t use it to buy myself a coffee or a lunch out for myself or buy clothes for myself. My own personal expenses come out of my personal account. As do dh’s.

There isn’t a rule though. The account is what you collectively decide between it’s for if you’re both contributing the money to it. But it’s not something you should assume just because your name is on it.

You need an honest conversation with OH, not the opinions of anyone else

I’m added onto Dh’s account with a card we consider it a joint account.

Sounds like a joint account. I was added to my partners account when we bought a house for the bills to go out of. I have a card, am named on the statements and can fully access it on my online banking. It was purely done that way as he already had 2 current accounts so saved having to open a new one.
We also have our own bank accounts where our wages are paid in, we just transfer our half of the bills into the joint every month.

there’s a difference, legally, so make sure.

a joint account belongs to both of you. You both can spend the money how you wish. You will both get access to internet banking, they will speak to both or wither on the phone etc. Should one of you die, the other automatically becomes sole owner of the account.

if you are a second cardholder, it is your dh’s account, but you have permission to use a card. He can remove you at any point, and you can only use the card, no other services. Should he die, you will lose access and the funds become part of his estate, subject to inheritance tax, and will go wherever his will dictates.

have you asked him?

I would consider that a joint account OP, but what that money can/should be spent on is for discussion between you & your DH. For example we have a joint account we both add money to each month that all our household bills come out of, that account is for bills & food shopping only, not for general spends (e.g. I wouldn’t pay to get my hair done from it!).

But, that’s only our way of using a joint account and not the only way, or what will work for everyone.

Do you have access to an account with money for general spends OP?

We each have separate bank accounts and both have access to that “joint “ account make payments and transfers. (We don’t receive paper bank statements).
Yes you are correct it is time for a chat with my OH.

Thank you

No I don’t have access to account for “food grocery) I use my account for that but he pays for other ie: car insurance and gas bills car tax.

OH confirmed it is joined account.

Thank you for your reply
Yes I can set up DD /SO from that account etc.