Eh, the issue really is huge inconvenience for no benefit. Bank has no benefit- either way I am standing there with ID, so bank does not gain additional security that a divorcing spouse will not sue bank for improper cashing of his share of check. I gain negative benefit because it took 25 minutes for him to set the account up, both of us had to be there, and tells me we both have to be there again for him to close the account. Besides, now I have joint account with wife who works in Calif and this could expose my separate accounts (with huge cap gains this year) to be exposed to Calif 9% tax. It's complicated, and banks shouldn't force me to do something that is contrary to regs and really gives them no benefit anyway, more than just a demand that the spouse with ID stand there and direct the funds into a single account.
