This section lets a bank pay a joint deposit to one depositor, but a depositor who wants to stop payments must give signed written notice to the bank.
§312. Alternative deposits; payment A. When a deposit is made in any bank under the names of two or more persons payable to any one of such depositors, that deposit or any part of it or any interest or dividend on it may be paid to any one of such depositors, whether the other depositor or depositors be living or not, and the receipt or acquittance of the person paid is a full release and discharge of the bank as to any heir, legatee, creditor, or other person having rights or claims to funds of such deceased depositor for any payment made; nor shall any bank paying any such depositor in accordance with the provisions of this Section thereby be liable for any estate, inheritance, or succession taxes that may be due this state. B.(1) When any such deposit is made in any bank under the names of two or more persons payable to any one of such depositors, if one of such depositors seeks to prevent payments from that account, that depositor must give written notice of his desire to prevent payment. The notice must be signed by him and delivered to the bank. After the receipt of such notice from one or more of such depositors, the bank may refuse to honor any check, draft, or demand upon the said deposit or* by any of the depositors, including the one or ones requesting the stopping of payment, unless all of the depositors upon the said account join in drawing such draft or check or demand for payment or other withdrawal of any of the funds. (2) In the event any bank has received a notice in writing as provided by this Subsection or a notice as provided in R.S. 10:4-403, such bank shall be relieved of responsibility to each and every one of the depositors upon the account or deposit in question for failure or refusal to honor any check or draft or demand for payment or other withdrawal unless the action is taken by all of the parties in whose names the account or deposit stands. C. The pledge to a bank of all or part of the deposits in the names of two or more persons, including but not limited to time accounts, savings accounts, or certificates of deposit, executed by a person upon whose signature withdrawals may be made, shall, unless the terms of the deposit provide specifically to the contrary, be a valid pledge to the bank of all the deposits pledged. D. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 9:1513 and 1514, or any similar provision, the provisions of this Section establish the exclusive method for payment of funds from an alternative account. E. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any federally insured financial institution may by contract prohibit or otherwise limit the pledge, assignment, collateral assignment, or granting of any other type of security interest in any deposit account maintained or established at such institution, including those deposit accounts evidenced by certificates of deposit issued by such institution. Acts 1984, No. 719, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1985; Acts 1988, No. 118, §1; Acts 1989, No. 137, §3, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1993, No. 948, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 2001, No. 128, §3, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2004, No. 42, §1. *As appears in enrolled bill.