Immigration Forum / USA Marriage Base / January 2005

Actually that is and should not be an issue.  If they have a joint
checking account that means they both of Debit Cards.  If she has his
password (I know Jim's and Jim knows mine) all she needs to do is access
his account to withdraw a few hundred.  I would assume your advice would
pertain to the wife's savings account as well.  Should not the husband
have immediate access to that one since she would have immediate access
to his?  And if that is the case, have you not eliminated the issue of
independence and privacy by making all accounts joint?

I was speaking more of a couple who both work, both bring in money and
both have their own savings account with one checking account.  I don't
see where the issue would be on complete separateness for the savings
account.  After death it doesn't take all that long to access the
spouse's funds if the wife is listed as beneficiary to the account.

Sorry if I put anyone off with my opinions, but I do hold firm that
every couple should an "us", "mine" and "their" accounts.  Marriage is
nice but still one should hold on to some financial independence if only
to have an account to buy a gift for the other without having to
withdraw from the household accounts.

Just as any property I owned before marriage would never become joint
property unless the new spouse were to either fork over 1/2 of the house
value.  If it were property I bought and sweated for prior to marriage,
then that property is not joint and would be protected by a pre-nup to
that effect.  Remember I'm a product of the 60's and 70's; not the 50's
June Cleaver role model ;-)  Nothing wrong with June but I prefer to
have a marriage where emotions are shared but that financially I have
retained a semblence of independence and financial stability.