Bit of legal/criminal advice needed.

[SaintHacker]

My Sis in law had a massive row with her husband last night. Long and short of it is she went to her mums with the kids as she feared for her own safety. This morning it turns out the husband has cleared their joint bank account right up to the overdraft limit takin all their bill/rent money.
Apart from being a nasty little piece of work, has he actually broken any laws by doing this? Is it worth her contacting the police?
Thanks if anyone can help.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Speaking as an ex Barclays Manager I can say with certainty, that he has not broken any laws and that your sister is joint and severally liable for the overdraft debt,

This means that the bank are able to recover the money owed from both or either of them.

She needs to go into the bank first chance and explain the situation, the bank will probably freeze the account.
The main problem is there is now no cash to pay the direct debits due, so mortgage/ council tax/ utilities etc will not be paid

Best thing is that your sis and her hubby try and sort this out before it gets to that.

The bank is stuck in the middle here, the bank didn't create the mess, but has to act to ensure the debt doesn't increase

Good luck, they will need it

 

[SaintHacker]

Cheers Phil, pretty much what I guessed.

 

[JCW]

Cheers Phil, pretty much what I guessed.

She should also advise the police if she is in fear , then social services , all this on top of what phil said , then they need to sort it out if not then it goes further down the legal road , only they know what is the problem and if they can or want to sort it out . The law is nearly always on the side of the mother

 

[Foxholer]

The law is nearly always on the side of the mother

Not quite/with reason.....

Any priority ('bias') in Family Law is based on vulnerability. That normally means children as highest priority, 'homemaker' next. So the result is normally ('nearly always' as you state) an award favouring the mother. I think it would be rare for anyone to disagree with the priorities, even if the circumstances/blame for any break-up are uncertain.

 

[Captainron]

Speaking as an ex Barclays Manager I can say with certainty, that he has not broken any laws and that your sister is joint and severally liable for the overdraft debt,

This means that the bank are able to recover the money owed from both or either of them.

She needs to go into the bank first chance and explain the situation, the bank will probably freeze the account.
The main problem is there is now no cash to pay the direct debits due, so mortgage/ council tax/ utilities etc will not be paid

Best thing is that your sis and her hubby try and sort this out before it gets to that.

The bank is stuck in the middle here, the bank didn't create the mess, but has to act to ensure the debt doesn't increase

Good luck, they will need it

Spot on Phil. Saw it loads why I was a bank manager too.

Hope she gets sorted