Joint Ownership of Assets Can Have Unintended Consequences

While there are some good reasons why parents and adult children consider joint ownership of assets, there are also some potential unintended consequences, including:

Divorce:  If a parent adds an adult child as joint owner on bank or investment accounts and that adult child becomes party to a divorce action, the child’s ex may claim the joint assets as part of the marital estate.

Creditors:  If an adult child is the joint owner of a parent’s accounts and has a lot of debt or files for bankruptcy, that child’s creditors can try to lay claim to the assets.

Temptation:  If an adult child has financial problems, they may be tempted to “borrow” from a parent’s account to satisfy debts.

Inheritance:  If the parent dies and the adult child is the surviving joint owner of assets, he or she doesn’t have to share with siblings, no matter what the parent may have intended.

Basic estate planning tools – including wills, living trusts and powers of attorney – can accomplish the same goals as joint ownership without the risk of unintended consequences.  Jill Gregory, a Personal Family Lawyer, can recommend which estate planning strategies will work best for your family and circumstances.

If you’d like to learn more about family estate planning, call our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session.

This article is a service of Jill Gregory Law, a Personal Family Lawyer® firm. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That’s why we offer a Life and Legacy Planning Session™, during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before, and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by clicking the button below or calling our office today at 949-514-8842 or 530-581-5455, to schedule a free 15 Minute Phone Consult with Jill Gregory, or your Planning Session today. Mention this article to find out how to get this $750 Life and Legacy Planning Session at no charge.