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spoling01 Asked March 2019

Does anyone have experience with a guardianship bank account?

I opened up a guardianship account for my brother only to be told I can't do any online banking (no bill pay, no drafts, no debit card). I can only write checks (how prehistoric is this??) and when I need to get cash for pocket money (sandwich, snack, etc) I have to drive into town and go to the bank to write a check to cash. I had all his bills setup on automatic bill pay or drafts - so now that the guardianship was issued I lose all my banking tools. Is this the way it works at all banks or did I just pick one that is totally backwards??

spoling01 Mar 2019
I think I will take your advice!

Roperj Mar 2019
Try contacting your local Probate Court (or which ever court in your area awards guardianship) for rules on Guardianship Accounts or Conservator guidelines.
spoling01 Mar 2019
thanks i made an appointment for next week!

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FrazzledMama Mar 2019
On my mom's guardianship account, I did have access to online banking and a debit card. The only restrictions were the amount of withdrawals (I think there was a limit of $500, but I never had to withdraw cash except to pay for lawn maintenance on her property or to get her some cash for her spending money there in the facility where she lived) and that the debit card and account were set up so that the account could not be overdrawn, at least not for electronic transactions. Rather, if the funds were not available, the transaction would be declined. I liked this feature too in case her social security or retirement came in a day or two late.

I would call other banks in the area and ask about their requirements/rules for guardianship accounts. There may be others that do offer the online services.
spoling01 Mar 2019
I am going to call the branch manager tomorrow to verify this man knew what he was talking about. If he tells me the same then I will check out another bank. Your response was very helpful
TNtechie Mar 2019
Unless there is some kind of state law or limitation expressed in your guardianship order coming into play, you just chose a backward bank. I had access to all the normal banking tools (including a debit card) for my father's guardianship account. Are you getting some kind of a "discount" on monthly servicing fees based on reduced services?

Be aware that banks like to hold on to deposited money and target estate and guardianship accounts for extra rules/harassment. I was my father's guardian and I am his estate administrator by court order. This week when I attempted to open an estate account by transferring the funds from the guardianship account, the bank told me I couldn't have access to the guardianship account for an internal transfer for at least 30 days after closing it to cover any unprocessed transactions. So I closed the account and walked out of the bank with cashier checks for the balance of both the guardianship account and my parents' survivorship joint asset account. Opened a estate account for my father and a new asset account for my mother (since my father's death the remaining funds are now hers exclusively) with a different bank. Transfered enough money into the estate account to cover my father's funeral expenses and wrote a check to the funeral home - just like the judge directed.

JoAnn29 Mar 2019
I would call another bank and ask their procedures. This does not sound right. You answer to the state. Do you have a caseworker or someone who oversees your guardianship. As them how you can set up his accts.

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