By Charlotte GAUCHON
17 June 2025
For many couples, opening a joint account is a practical way of managing day-to-day expenses. However, this ease of management can turn into a source of major legal risks when one of the joint account holders incurs a personal debt. The seizure of this account by a creditor then raises complex issues, particularly when the debt is linked to the repayment of credit. The protection afforded to the non-debtor spouse will depend entirely on the spouses' matrimonial property regime and the nature of the debt. Understanding these mechanisms is therefore essential to anticipate and defend against a seizure that could affect all household funds. Joint accounts: definition and general rules A joint account is a bank account opened in the name of several people, known as joint holders. Its main feature is the principle of active and passive joint liability. Active joint liability means that each co-account holder can use the funds available on the account to...
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