Joint bank account with single access?

[Mike551]

Is it possible to have some sort of joint account that only I can access until I allow the other party access or on my death? I would like to set up an arrangement where my wife has immediate funds but not access while I am around.

[ummmm]

Why?

[lady_p_gold]

Don't quite see how, a joint account is exactly that. Why can't you just pay money into her account ?

[themas]

There are ways of ensuring money can be available without waiting for probate. A quite common one is a life assurance policy written in trust, so it falls outside your estate and can be paid out rapidly.

I do not see how you can do what you want with a joint account. You could try to make sure your wife didn't have access to the cheque book or to any cards but she will have to know about the account so she can use it after your demise, and it might be that the bank would give her her own card if she asked (you could check this with the bank).

[WendyS]

What a strange relationship you have - don't you trust her? If she is an unconrollable spender perhaps I could understand it.
A joint account is exactly what it says. Both parties have access to it. You may be able to set up an account with your bank where your wife has withdrawing rights, but only on a cheque which contains both signatures but you would have to talk to your bank manager to see whether this would be possible.
Otherwise, set up a separate account for her and arrange a monthly standing order into it from your own account and take out an insurance policy for her, written held in trust, so that she can receive death benefits without waiting for your Will to go to probate. But if she has no other money apart from what you give to her, how could she cope financially if you had a stroke or were taken into hospital and couldn't get to a bank to withdraw money for her?