[olivian]

I found out that my husband was writing out checks and cashing them for large amounts of money without me knowing. He was writing in my check book that he wrote a check out for $30 when really it was $300, etc. I have a separate account but had gave permission to sign my name but had no idea he was really writing the checks out for more. The total amount that was taken from me was around $6000. Someone told me it was legal for him to do this since we were married, Is this illegal since it was a large amount of money and I had no idea he was doing this and writing false info in my checkbook? Can I have him arrested for forgery or fraud?

[cdad]

From what your saying so far the answer is no. You gave him permission. If your name is primary on the account the money came from then your responsibility was also primary too. Has he explained what the money went to and have you made a decision as to the status of the marriage?

[Fr_Chuck]

He can not write any money out of your check book, and write even one dollar unless you added his name to the check book.

But since you gave him permission to write out money, and you are married, it is doubtful anyone will do anything about it, You have learned a lesson, I assume there was a reason you had a separate account, so ask him to pay you back

[ScottGem]

Why would you give him permission to sign YOUR name rather then allow him as a signator on the account?

But as a married couple, I doubt if you will get a prosecutor to press criminal charges against him. Empty the account and open a new one and don't give him the checkbook.

[olivian]

Thank you for answering! I had gave him permission to do this a few times, but he started taking checks without asking and writing them out for more than he was documenting. I hadn't looked at my checkbook in awhile because I had been using my credit card. I found out my account had been overdrawn so I got copies of my checks and figured out what had happened. He had lied about what he was spending and didn't tell me he was using my checks or ask me permission to use them. It may have been different if he had asked first. If he told me he had spent $30 and really spent $300, he had spent $270 that I was unaware of. Marriage is suppose to be based on trust and I obviously can trust him so our relationship is over.

[Fr_Chuck]

Get all of this and use it to try and get better settlement in divorce. And another note, it is a sign you don't balance your check book every month, I balance mine every week to be sure something was not forgotten

[ScottGem]

In these days of electronic access to banking, I check my account daily and make sure I know every transaction.

But, I agree you have a bigger problem than the loss of the money. Your marriage is, apparently over. Unless you go through some heavy counseling and can regain the trust.

In the meantime, do what I said about closing the account. And what chuck said about documenting with your divoce settlement in mind.