Someone stole my identity and took all my money from the bank

Well, first of all you should have posted this in the correct place - this area is NOT for legal questions.

I don't think there is a problem if an account holder withdraws money from a joint account and then closes the account.

So have you started divorce proceedings? Sounds like you need to get an attorney involved ASAP.

 

If you believe someone perpetrated a fraud upon your bank, thereby allowing the fraudster to escape with thousands of your dollars you should report the matter to your local police department and your bank.

 

By definition, a joint account is one that is held by more than one person, with each individual having the rights to deposit and withdraw funds. Unless you had the account set up in some way that it required both signers to withdraw funds (which is unusual in the case of personal accounts) any authorized signer on the account could take out the funds and close the account. Nobody would have to impersonate you in order to allow the other owner of the account to access the funds.

 

There is a LOT missing from this story, but if you had a joint account the money was as much hers as yours. No one needed to pose as you.

 

If it was a joint account, each account holder can make withdrawals, make deposits, close the account....... all without the other account holder's signature.

 

I am shocked at the number of folks that have stated a Joint Checking or Saving account can be closed by one spouse. Most banks require BOTH to sign to close the account.

 

Well one person can withdraw all of the money which would have effectively "closed" the account.

 

I've seen ONE person withdraw ALL of the money and more using the built in WITHDRAWAL protection or line of credit.

If a relationship gets rocky, a person might be wise to open his or her SINGLE account.

 

I've worked in banking for 35 years and generally the rule is that ANY owner of a joint account can close the account without the other owner's signature; however, one owner cannot remove another owner from the account without that person's permission.

 

I had a joint account closed by the other account holder without my permission. It can and does happen.