Signing a check for someone else.

[my3dogs]

Here's the story....
I'm home and can't drive.  I'm on short term disability due to the seizures.   Last week my direct deposit from work didn't happen and they cut me a check instead.  My husband just called from the post office.  He said my check came in and he's on his way to work.
He works an hour away.   He works 5 min. from our bank.    Tomorrow we are going an hour in the opposite direction because I have a dr. appointment.   
I suggested he just sign the check for me so that it can be deposited today.
You'd think I'd asked him to murder someone.   He freaked out.
I was a bit surprised by his reaction.   
Maybe I'm way off base.
I'm curious what others think. 

-Wendy

[dgodden5459]

I use to work at a bank and was told if the person writes FOR DEPOSIT ONLY he can deposit into your account. Hope this helps.

[my3dogs]

He called back and decided it would be easier to deposit it today. 
Gee....that's what I thought too.   
He has the account number and he's off to the bank.
Such a good little camper.   

[Scootergirl]

Sheesh! I sign my husband's name on the back of his checks ALL THE TIME!! Just in case they ask or question it, I do have Power of Attorney (which wouldn't be a bad idea for you and your husband to draw up in your case, Wendy), but no one has EVER questioned it. Of course, we're in a community property state so that may have something to do with it, but I really don't think banks pay that much attention to that stuff anymore - especially if he's just depositing it and not asking for cash back. And, if his name is on the account, too they shouldn't have any reason to question it.

Jeanne

[my3dogs]

I do have Power of Attorney (which wouldn't be a bad idea for you and your husband to draw up in your case, Wendy),

That's not a bad idea.   I'm going to talk to hubby about that.
You just never know what might happen.  Better to be prepared.

Thanks!

Wendy

[lins_saving_grace]

1.) a durable power of attorney would be good.   make sure it covers everything.
2.) "window treatment"...the art of signing a document for someone when they aren't available but know you're doing it.  

[Scootergirl]

We got Power of Attorney because hubby worked offshore so was gone for weeks and months at a time. Now, he's driving (well, he will be when his leg is healed, anyway) so he'll once again be gone for weeks/months at a time. It's come in handy several times.

It's very easy for a lawyer to draw up and doesn't cost hardly anything.

[lins_saving_grace]

you can get them at office max too...and sign it in front of a notary public and file it/record it  (if you have to) with your local county clerk/register of deeds office.

[NoDogNow]

I do have Power of Attorney (which wouldn't be a bad idea for you and your husband to draw up in your case, Wendy)

All those precautions aren't just for married people, or people who have a medical issue!

My mom and my brother are on my bank account JIC, and my mother has both a general POA and a POA for Healthcare, just in case I get hit by a bus.  There are copies of the POAHC on file with both my doctors--and the dentist!--and a copy on file with the 2 hospitals where I've been a patient in the last 10 years, as well as my family doctor in Utah.

If you're not married, you should think of someone--OK, mine are family members, but I'm on my best friend's joint account JIC, it doesn't have to be--that you trust to be an emergency signatory on your checking account, and who you trust with your POAHC, even if you don't decide to do a general POA naming someone.

It's important stuff to think about.  When Mom insisted on being on my checking account when I set it up 20 years ago, I thought she was nuts.  To be honest, I just did it to shut her up about it.  Then a couple of years ago I had emergency surgery; and if my mom hadn't been an authorized signer on my account, my rent would totally have not gotten paid, or anything else for that matter! 

In addition to all that, my parents also have also filed copies of their Advance Directives with their doctors--Dad has about 12 doctors at this point!--and with both the nearest hospital the ambulance would go to if called, and with the hospital where they're treated when not dragged there in an ambulance.  My dad has long time heart problems, so the ambulance rule of "nearest facility" has been an issue more than once. 

It's scary to think about it, but it's more scary to think what might happen if you're not prepared. 

My neighbor a few years ago was an older lady whose grown kids live out of state.  One night, I wake up to this horrible thumping and crashing outside my door--the paramedics were there taking her to the hospital. 

She was there almost 3 weeks before she passed away.  Her daughter arrived and discovered that her mom had changed banks, and she wasn't a signatory on her new account.  Her rent didn't get paid on the first, and the landlord, who's a first class jerk, told the daughter who was staying in her dying mother's apartment to be near her, that if she didn't pay the rent by the 10th of the month, he would start proceedings.  We all pitched in as much as we could, but he charged her a late fee AND an additional tenant fee.  Less than a week later, my neighbor passed away.   The last time I spoke to the daughter, about six months after her mom passed, she STILL didn't have access to her mom's bank account or her safe deposit box--no will, everything in probate court.  And all the papers about her mom's insurance, etc. were in the safe deposit box that she can't get into.  She thought she might not even be able to file for her mom's burial insurance, because it was taking so long. 

Wow.  That went a long way from depositing a check without a signature.   

I'm posting it anyway.   We all need to think about this stuff.  It all ends up so much worse if you don't think about it.