Daughter-in-law keeps login codes and passwords.

Questioner

Our daughter-in-law left the house she bought at the beginning of December and moved in with her new partner. Our son and daughter-in-law have a registered partnership and a joint checking account. She managed the administration. Daughter-in-law refuses to contribute to the mortgage. She also refuses to provide login details for energy company, KPN, etc. The administration shows that she knowingly and deliberately saddled our son with a debt to the health insurer by not paying the requested payment arrangement. This month she had her salary deposited into another account. She left the children with our son. It is very likely that the child benefit will also be deposited there on January 2. Is all this possible and allowed?

Lawyer

The situation you describe involves several legal issues, each of which deserves separate attention: Paying the Mortgage: If your daughter-in-law is a co-owner of the home and there is a mortgage on it, she is in principle partly responsible for the mortgage payments, regardless of whether she still lives there. If she stops paying, this can have consequences for both her and your son, including a possible registration with the Credit Registration Office (BKR). Access to Administration: Failure to provide login details for shared services such as energy, internet, etc. can be problematic, especially if these services are still in both names. Your son may consider contacting the relevant service providers directly to restore access or to have the contracts transferred to his name. Debt to Health Insurance Company: If your daughter-in-law was responsible for managing the finances and she was negligent, this may have legal implications. However, proving 'knowingly and intentionally' negligent can be complex. Your son may want to consider seeking legal advice to assess his rights and options. Change of Bank Account: It is permitted for a person to have his or her salary paid into another account. However, this does not directly affect the legal obligations arising from the registered partnership and joint finances. Abandonment of Children: If the children have been left with your son, arrangements will need to be made for their care and upbringing. This may also affect matters such as child support and child maintenance. Child Benefit: Child benefit is usually paid to the parent with whom the child lives. If the children are currently living with your son, he would in principle be entitled to child benefit. It is advisable for your son to seek legal assistance to handle these matters correctly. Ending a registered partnership and arranging joint finances and childcare are complex processes that require expert advice. Legal assistance is particularly crucial when dividing debts and assets, and when drawing up a parenting plan if minor children are involved. You can call the Divorce Shop for this on 0800 8224433 (free).