Q: can a joint spousal checking account in PA be frozen if only one person owes the debt?
A:
It really shouldn't be. Property owned by a husband and wife is a special kind of ownership in Pennsylvania known as a tenancy-by-the-entireties. This includes money held in a joint checking account in the names of both husband and wife. A creditor of just one spouse cannot seize property owned by both spouses held in tenancies-by-the entireties. So the answer is no -- that joint checking account shouldn't be frozen. And if it is, you would have this defense to release any attachment of the account.
Best of luck to you.
A: Shouldn't be unless the other spouse agrees to be responsible for the debt or was a cosigner.
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