Don’t go into a lease while planning to get out of it

DEAR BRUCE: I am looking at entering into a lease. My question is, what if I wanted to “exit” the lease early? Can I transfer the payments or “loan” it to somebody else? -- Reader

DEAR READER: If you’re remotely considering getting out of a lease early, don’t go into a lease! You might be able to transfer the payments to someone else, if they are creditworthy and the lender has no reason not to do this, but there is no guarantee. Either way, since you’re looking for a way out before you even sign anything, I wouldn’t get in.

DEAR BRUCE: I’ve been married 24 years. My husband has always kept a separate account from mine, and so therefore, I keep my money in a separate account as well. However, we have recently come into some money due to the sale of two homes.

During a period of 10 years, he saved all the money he possibly could while I paid all of the bills. He built up a very large savings account.

I recently received a $50,000 settlement from an accident. We decided to add it to a joint account. About two months ago, he transferred all but $25 into his account. I wasn’t too worried about it because I was a joint signer on that account.

Then he took it all, over $110,000, and moved it to an account with his name only. Now he won’t give me the account number. I am mad!

Doesn’t the bank have any responsibility to notify the joint account holder? I feel like my husband stole from me. -- C.S.

DEAR C.S.: Unhappily, you’ve been paying all the bills for 10 years and he has been putting everything into his savings account. Seems a little one-sided.

That having been said, putting your money into a joint account means either of the joint members (you and your husband) may take out as much as you want.

You can take out everything, if needed.

I understand that you’re angry with the bank, but that was the type of account you both opened, and there is no responsibility on the bank.

What your husband did is another story. You should sit down and try talking it out.

If you can’t come to a conclusion, you may go to some kind of mediation.

I suspect that your marriage is going to be put through a very solid test, and I wouldn’t move hastily, but I would move quickly.

Send questions to bruce@ brucewilliams.com. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

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