Opinion ID: 1202311
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: nature of howser's account.

Text: Howser maintains that he and his wife established an ungarnishable tenancy by the entirety in their bank account. Traders counters that the clear language of the Pioneer signature card conclusively determines that there was only a joint account. A tenancy by the entirety is a unique form of ownership in which both spouses are jointly seized of property such that neither spouse can convey an interest alone nor can one spouse's creditor attach the property to satisfy a debt. See In re Trust Created by Declaration of Trust of Dean, Dated November 14, 1944, and Subsequently Amended, 47 Haw. 629, 394 P.2d 432 (1964). And although a tenancy by the entirety can exist in personal property, it must manifestly appear that the spouses intended to create such an estate. In re Estate of Au, 59 Haw. 474, 583 P.2d 966 (1978); see Hawaii Revised Statutes (hereinafter HRS) §§ 509-1 and 509-2 (1985). [2] Here, the unambiguous signature card clearly evidences that Howser and his family set up a joint account, analogous to a joint tenancy, and not a tenancy by the entirety. See HRS § 403-134 (1985). [3] The plain and ordinary signature card language (which essentially contains contract terms for deposits, withdrawals, and liability) is dispositive, and no real question of intent exists. See Hanagami v. China Airlines, Ltd., 67 Haw. 357, 688 P.2d 1139 (1984) (per curiam); Bishop Trust Co. v. Central Union Church of Honolulu, 3 Haw. App. 624, 656 P.2d 1353 (1983). Had Howser genuinely wanted to create a tenancy by the entirety, he and his wife should have so indicated on the documents provided by Pioneer. No such estate therefore existed. Hence, Howser cannot use the tenancy by the entirety doctrine to evade judgment creditor Traders' garnishment. See Sawada v. Endo, 57 Haw. 608, 561 P.2d 1291 (1977). Additionally, a tenancy by the entirety must be held exclusively by married spouses who alone possess the mutual right of survivorship. See e.g., In re Estate of Ikuta, 64 Haw. 236, 639 P.2d 400 (1981). Should the spouses divorce, the property becomes a tenancy in common. Vaughan v. Williamson, 1 Haw. App. 496, 621 P.2d 387 (1980). In this case, by contrast, Howser's daughters are also joint title holders to the account. Because a tenancy by the entirety cannot include the spouses' children, see e.g., Corey v. Jonathan Manor, Inc., 59 Haw. 277, 580 P.2d 843 (1978) (per curiam), Ikegami v. Ikegami, 1 Haw. App. 505, 620 P.2d 768 (1980), this is more evidence that no valid tenancy by the entirety was present.