How to Close Joint Bank Accounts After Divorce in Florida

The Problem With Leaving Joint Accounts Open

A Florida divorce decree can say one spouse gets 60% of the joint checking account and the other gets 40%. The bank does not care. Under a joint tenancy with rights of survivorship — the default for most joint accounts — either account holder can walk into the branch and withdraw the entire balance, no questions asked.

Your divorce decree is a court order binding on you and your ex-spouse. It is not binding on the bank. The bank follows its own account agreement, and that agreement gives both signers full access until the account is formally closed.

This is why separating joint accounts belongs in the first 30 days after the decree is entered — before either party has a chance (or a motivation) to complicate things.

Step-by-Step: Closing a Joint Bank Account

1. Gather your documents. Bring a certified copy of your Final Judgment of Dissolution, a government-issued photo ID, and your account information (account number, debit card) to the branch.

2. Divide the funds according to the decree. Most banks will issue a cashier's check for each party's share if both account holders are present. If your ex-spouse won't come to the branch, do not assume you can withdraw funds unilaterally. Ask the bank what its account agreement and divorce-separation process require, and follow the decree's allocation.

3. Close the account. Ask the bank to close the account and provide written confirmation. If outstanding checks or automatic debits are still pending, the bank may require you to wait until they clear. Factor that in.

4. Open an individual account. If you don't already have one, open a new checking account in your sole name at the same appointment. Some banks offer same-day direct deposit setup.

5. Redirect automatic payments and deposits. Update your payroll direct deposit with your employer's HR department. Reroute any automatic bill payments — utilities, streaming subscriptions, loan payments — to the new account. Allow two billing cycles for the switch to take full effect.

Joint Savings and Investment Accounts

The same principle applies to joint savings accounts. For joint brokerage or investment accounts, the process is slightly different — your brokerage may require both parties to sign a transfer authorization. Contact the firm directly and reference the divorce decree. Most brokerages have a dedicated department for court-ordered account separations.

For jointly held certificates of deposit (CDs), breaking the CD early to divide the funds may trigger an early withdrawal penalty. Check whether your decree specifies who absorbs that penalty, and factor it into the division.

What About Joint Credit Cards?

Joint credit card accounts — where both spouses are primary cardholders, not just authorized users — cannot be split or converted to individual accounts. The issuer holds both parties liable for the full balance regardless of what the decree allocates.

The cleanest path: pay the balance to zero using marital funds as the decree directs, close the account, and get written confirmation from the issuer. If you are merely an authorized user (not a joint account holder), call the issuer and have yourself removed. That takes one phone call.

Leaving a joint credit card open is one of the fastest ways to damage your credit post-divorce. If your ex-spouse runs up charges or misses a payment, the delinquency hits your credit report too.

Protecting Yourself During the Transition

If there is a gap between the decree date and the day you close the joint account, keep records of every transaction. Screenshot or photograph the balance on the day the decree is entered. If your ex-spouse withdraws more than their allocated share before you can close the account, that documented balance becomes evidence for an enforcement motion.

The Florida After-Divorce Checklist includes a joint account worksheet that tracks each account, the decree-ordered split, and the closure confirmation — so nothing slips through during a transition where every week matters.

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