Q: Need help getting my 21 yr. old daughter access to her title 13 bank account established for her as a minor.
From a dog bite attack at the age of 3 my daughter has funds in a Title 13 account in a local bank. She is now 21 years old and wants access to the money. The bank is refusing to let her have it, stating she needs a court order to do so. What can we do to prove there is no court order needed? It’s only a little money, hiring a lawyer would cost more then the funds in the bank. Or am I wrong is there legal action needed?
A: Maryland Estates & Trusts Code, Sections 13-405(a) (applicable to funds recovered in personal injury/tort claims) and 13-501(b) (applicable in all other scenarios), both provide that full payment may be made to the minor child upon attainment of 18 years of age, without a court order. A court order is only required if funds are paid before the child reached 18 years of age. You may look up the two statutes and print them out and show them to the bank, and demand that the bank contact their legal counsel's office to confirm their legal obligations if they refuse, or failing that, pay a lawyer to call and write the bank and get them to comply.
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