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Joint account meaning

What does Joint account mean?
A joint account is a bank account in the names of two or more persons, operated under a joint mandate. In banking law the credit balance is a debt owed by the bank to the holders jointly; accordingly, proceedings to recover that debt are ordinarily brought by all joint holders together, even if the mandate authorises one holder to give day‑to‑day instructions. The term is descriptive rather than defined by statute; its legal features arise from contract and common law/case law. Key features include: the mandate (for example, either‑to‑sign or both‑to‑sign) governs authority to withdraw; any holder may notify the bank to vary or suspend operation pending a dispute. Any overdraft or other borrowing on a joint bank account is typically the joint and several liability of all holders. Set‑off generally requires mutuality, so a bank will not usually set off one holder’s sole debt against a joint credit without express agreement. Creditors of a single holder face limits enforcing against a joint balance for want of mutuality, subject to specific statutory procedures. On death, banks commonly recognise survivorship for operation of the account, but the beneficial ownership of the balance as between survivors and the estate depends on intention and contributions...
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View the related News about Joint account

NEWS
UK and EU commercial law weekly: UKSC no-profit fiduciary ruling, CMA consumer enforcement guidance, ECJ upholds asymmetric jurisdiction clauses, CMA tech transfer consultation, ASA pricing ruling, HMRC updates, resources

In this issue: Advertising, marketing and sponsorship Agency and distribution Consumer protection Contracts Contractual joint ventures International Daily and weekly news alerts Dates for your diary Trackers New and updated content Advertising, marketing and sponsorship ASA rulings—19 March 2025 A single complaint was made to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about Haven Leisure Ltd’s claims on holiday pricing. The ASA upheld the complaint. See: LNB News 19/03/2025 11. Agency and distribution Recovery Partners GP Ltd v Rukhadze [2025] UKSC 10 The Supreme Court dismissed the appellants’ appeal against an order to account for profits earned in breach of duty; they were employees of the respondent companies and owed fiduciary duties. The court affirmed strict adherence to the fiduciary ‘no profit’ rule, rejecting arguments for a ‘but for’ causation test and for counterfactual enquiries into whether the gains could have been authorised if consent had been sought. See: Recovery Partners GP...

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NEWS
UK banking and finance weekly briefing: case law, lending and security, DCM and derivatives, regulatory and securitisation reforms, restructuring, AI and digital assets (Scotland), Basel III—28 November 2024

In this issue: Banking and Finance case round-up Lending Security Debt capital markets Derivatives Regulation for derivatives lawyers Securitisation and structured products Restructuring Technology in banking & finance transactions Regulation for banking lawyers Scotland Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Useful information Banking and Finance case round-up Banking & Finance—November 2024 case round-up For a summary of the cases we flagged in Banking & Finance during October 2024, refer to News Analysis: Banking & Finance—November 2024 case round-up. Lending Re KRF Services (UK) Ltd [2024] EWHC 2978 (Ch) The judgment addressed a High Court application for an administration order, heard in that court, and centred on two key points of interest: (i) whether the sole director’s resolution to seek an administration order was effective; and (ii) the effect of the sanctions regime. On the first question, the court examined the company’s unamended Model...

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NEWS
UK/EU restructuring and insolvency weekly: Supreme Court fiduciary ruling, Part 26A plans, payment institution special administration, Budget and FSCS updates, EU harmonisation, key dates—27 November 2025

Restructuring & Insolvency weekly highlights—27 November 2025 In this issue: Key R&I law developments Insolvency litigation Restructuring Directors and insolvency The office-holder Financial institutions R&I in Scotland Daily and weekly news alerts Key dates for restructuring and insolvency professionals New content New Q&As Key R&I law developments Budget 2025—key Restructuring & Insolvency announcements On 26 November 2025, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, set out measures of note for restructuring and insolvency practitioners. Plans cover business rates changes, hiring extra Insolvency Service staff to combat abusive phoenixism and rogue directors, the creation of the Public Authorities Fraud Investigation and Enforcement Service, and adjustments to National Insurance Contributions. See: LNB News 26/11/2025 65. Council of the EU agrees directive harmonising insolvency law across member states Negotiators for the Council of the EU and the European Parliament have reached a provisional deal on a directive aligning...

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View the related Practice Notes about Joint account

PRACTICE NOTES
Criminal Finances Act 2017: corporate failure to prevent facilitation of tax evasion: offences, defence, risk-based procedures, associated persons, jurisdiction, penalties and self-reporting

The Criminal Finances Act 2017 (CFA 2017) The CFA 2017 created a corporate offence for failing to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion, taking effect on 30 September 2017. The government has published guidance detailing its expectations for compliance systems, and this Practice Note reflects both the legislation and that guidance. The guidance should be applied proportionately and on a risk-led basis, taking into account the size, nature and complexity of your organisation. Smaller organisations in low-risk sectors may reasonably adopt more modest measures. Large multinational businesses operating in high-risk areas may need far more robust controls. The government accepts that a proportionate, risk-based approach cannot deliver a zero-failure regime. Where you can show that reasonable prevention procedures are in place to identify and mitigate risks of facilitating tax evasion, prosecution is unlikely because you will be able to rely on a statutory defence. The Law Society has also issued Criminal Finances Act 2017 guidance for law firms, which has been approved...

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PRACTICE NOTES
CA 2006 ss 171–174: directors' conduct duties, creditor duty, stakeholder factors, case law, guidance and reporting

Directors’ duties—fundamentals For the first time, the key duties of directors formulated by the courts were expressly set out in statutory form in sections 171–177 of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006), thereby consolidating existing judge‑made principles. A full account of these statutory obligations—referred to as the general duties—can be found in Practice Note: Directors’ duties—fundamentals. The first four general duties are set out below: a duty to act in line with the company’s constitution and to use conferred powers solely for their proper purposes as intended by that constitution a duty to act, in good faith, in the manner the director believes is most likely to promote the company’s success for the benefit of all members collectively, while, in doing so, having regard to various factors a duty to exercise independent judgment a duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence With respect to the fifth, sixth and seventh general duties, consult Practice Note: Directors’ duties—directors’ interests: CA...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Third party debt orders: frequently asked questions on scope, process, and special assets (crypto, pensions, funds in court) under CPR Part 72 (England and Wales)

This Practice Note addresses several frequently asked questions that may arise when deciding whether to pursue a Third Party Debt Order (TPDO). For guidance on what a TPDO is and the steps to obtain one, see Practice Notes: What is a third party debt order (TPDO)? How to apply for a third party debt order (TPDO) Does a TPDO have to be issued against a financial institution? No. You can apply for a TPDO against any third party within the jurisdiction that owes money to your debtor. This extends to an individual who is a debtor of the judgment debtor. Can a TPDO be made in respect of cryptocurrency? Following the decision in Ion Science Ltd v Persons Unknown (2020) (not reported by LexisNexis), the High Court confirmed that crypto assets are capable of being treated as property and can be traced and enforced against, including via an application for a TPDO. For guidance, see News Analysis: First third-party debt...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent sale contract for freehold property subject to occupational leases: arrears, rent reviews, service charges, rent deposits, TOGC/VAT, TUPE, capital allowances, overseas entities, environmental liability (England and Wales)

date [ date ] Parties [ name of Seller ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with registered office at ] [ address ] [ and whose address for service in England and Wales is [ address ] ] ( Seller ) [ name of Buyer ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with registered office at ] [ address ] [ and whose address for service in England and Wales is [ address ] ] ( Buyer ) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with registered office at ] [ address ] [ and whose address for service in England and Wales is [ address ] ] ( Guarantor ) ] 1 Definitions In this Agreement, the terms set out below shall have the meanings given: ...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent sale contract for leasehold reversion subject to occupational leases, incorporating Standard Commercial Property Conditions, covering arrears, rent deposits, TUPE, VAT and consent to assign — England and Wales

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Seller ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] [ and whose address for service in England and Wales is [ address ] ] (Seller) [ name of Buyer ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] [ and whose address for service in England and Wales is [ address ] ] (Buyer) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] [ and whose address for service in England and Wales is [ address ] ] (Guarantor) ] 1 Definitions In this Agreement, the terms set out below shall have the following meanings: Actual Completion...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent retention deed for private M&A share purchase: bank as retention agent (England and Wales)

Retention deed—private M&A—share purchase—bank as retention agent This Deed is dated [ insert day and month ] 20[ insert year ] Parties [ Insert name of selling corporate shareholder ] incorporated in [ England and Wales OR [ insert country of incorporation ] ] with registered number [ insert company number ] whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (the Seller); [ Insert name of purchasing corporate entity ] incorporated in [ England and Wales OR [ insert country of incorporation ] ] with registered number [ insert company number ] whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (the Buyer); [ Insert name of bank acting as retention agent ] incorporated in [ England and Wales OR [ insert country of incorporation ] ] with registered number [ insert company number ] whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (the Retention Agent), [ (each of the Seller, the Buyer and the Retention Agent constitutes...

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Q&As
Joint asset with mother: matrimonial/non-matrimonial on divorce

No statute sets out what counts as a non-matrimonial asset, yet case law has long examined and refined the line between these items and property included within the marital acquest during divorce proceedings. An interest a spouse obtains during the marriage in a parent’s home can be treated as comparable to an inheritance and, for the purposes of classification in financial remedy claims and outcomes, viewed as non-matrimonial. Such an interest might indeed effectively amount to a lifetime gift or a pre-death inheritance...

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Q&As
Court of Protection: LPA attorney loan with 2% compound interest

It is not clear whether the donor holds a lasting power of attorney (LPA) for property and affairs (P&A), for health and welfare (H&W), or both. As attorneys have determined that the donor’s home should be sold (necessitating a P&A LPA) and that the donor should move into a care home (necessitating a H&W LPA), we proceed on the basis that both LPAs exist and have been registered. We also proceed on the basis that there is more than one attorney. Where authority to act is several rather than joint, the lending attorney may opt out of any decision in which they have a conflict of interests. It is further assumed that: the donor had adequate capacity to enter into the loan the LPAs do not include specific instructions or preferences about when the donor’s home is to be sold and/or when they are to enter a care home (if present, the attorneys should take them into account) the attorney who advanced the loan wishes...

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