What adding a spouse to your Fidelity account means
Adding a spouse to your Fidelity account does not mean merging two separate accounts into one. Instead, it means giving your spouse legal access to view and manage the account alongside you. Fidelity calls this joint account ownership, and it changes how the account is titled, taxed, and what happens to it if one of you dies.
The process itself is straightforward: you contact Fidelity, provide your spouse's information, and sign paperwork that converts your individual account to a joint account. Your spouse then receives their own login credentials and can trade, transfer money, and make decisions about the account without asking your permission first. This is different from giving someone power of attorney or a beneficiary designation — those are read-only or take effect only after death.
Before you start, understand that joint ownership means both of you own the entire account equally, regardless of who contributed the money. If your marriage ends, the account becomes part of the marital property division. If one of you dies, the surviving spouse typically inherits the full balance automatically, which bypasses probate but may have tax consequences.
Key Takeaways
- Contact Fidelity by phone, in person, or through your online account to request a joint account conversion; you cannot do this through the website alone.
- You will need your spouse's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and current address to add them to the account.
- Both you and your spouse must sign the account agreement; Fidelity will mail or email the forms, and both signatures are required before the change takes effect.
- Joint ownership means your spouse can trade, withdraw, and transfer money without your permission, and the account becomes marital property if you divorce.
- The conversion typically takes one to two weeks after both signatures are received, though the timeline depends on how quickly you and your spouse return the paperwork.
How to start the conversion process
Call Fidelity at 1-800-343-3548 and tell the representative you want to convert your individual account to a joint account. Have your account number ready. The representative will confirm your identity, ask for your spouse's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and current address, and explain what joint ownership means in your state.
If you prefer not to call, you can also visit a Fidelity branch in person — most branches can initiate the request the same day. Online account management does not offer this option; Fidelity requires a phone call or in-person visit to start the conversion because the change is legally binding and affects both account holders.
After you provide your spouse's information, Fidelity will prepare the account agreement and send it to both of you. Some documents arrive by mail; others come through your find message center if you have online access set up. Read the agreement carefully — it will specify how the account is titled (usually "Your Name and Spouse Name, Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship" or a similar phrasing) and what happens to the account if one of you dies.
What paperwork you and your spouse need to sign
Fidelity will send you a Joint Account Agreement that both you and your spouse must sign and return. This document confirms that you both understand the account is now jointly owned, that either of you can make trades or withdrawals, and that the account will pass to the surviving spouse if one of you dies. Some states require notarization; Fidelity will tell you whether yours does.
You may also need to provide proof of your spouse's identity — typically a copy of their driver's license or passport. Fidelity will specify what they need when they send the forms. Do not sign the agreement until you have read it completely and understand the survivorship language, because changing it later requires another request and more paperwork.
Both signatures must be original — photocopies or electronic signatures may not be accepted, depending on your state and the type of account. If you are converting a retirement account (like a Roth IRA or SEP-IRA), the rules are stricter, and Fidelity may not allow joint ownership at all. Ask the representative when you call whether your specific account type can be converted to joint.
Timeline and what happens after you sign
Once Fidelity receives both signatures, the conversion typically takes one to two weeks. During this time, Fidelity updates the account title in their system, generates new account statements, and creates login credentials for your spouse. You will receive a confirmation letter when the change is complete.
Your spouse can then log in using their own username and password. They will see the full account balance, all holdings, and transaction history. They can place trades, request transfers, and change certain account settings without notifying you. If you have automatic investments or dividend reinvestment set up, those continue unchanged.
If the paperwork gets lost or delayed, contact Fidelity to resend it. Do not assume silence means the request is processing — follow up after two weeks if you have not received the signed agreement back or a confirmation that the conversion is complete.
Tax and legal consequences of joint ownership
Converting to joint ownership does not trigger a taxable event, but it does change how the account is reported on your taxes. If the account generates dividends or capital gains, those are now split between you and your spouse for tax reporting purposes — though you will still file one combined return if you are married filing jointly.
If you die, your spouse inherits the account automatically without probate. This is usually faster than going through a will, but it also means the account does not pass through your estate. If you have other heirs or a will that specifies who should receive the account, joint ownership overrides those instructions. Some people use joint accounts for this reason; others avoid them for the same reason.
In a divorce, the account becomes marital property subject to division. Your spouse cannot be forced off the account during the divorce, but a court order can require the account to be split or converted back to individual ownership as part of the settlement. If you are concerned about this, discuss it with a family law attorney before converting.
Alternatives if you do not want full joint ownership
If you want your spouse to see the account but not trade or withdraw without your permission, you can set up view-only access instead. This is sometimes called a "linked account" or "authorized user" status, depending on the account type. Your spouse can log in and see balances and transactions, but cannot make changes.
You can also name your spouse as a beneficiary, which means they inherit the account if you die, but they have no access while you are alive. This is simpler than joint ownership and does not make the account marital property during your marriage.
If you want your spouse to handle the account if you become incapacitated, you can grant power of attorney instead of converting to joint ownership. This gives them authority to act on your behalf without making them a legal owner. Fidelity can explain which option works best for your situation.
What to do if something goes wrong during the conversion
If Fidelity loses the paperwork, call 1-800-343-3548 and ask them to resend it. Keep a record of the date you called and the representative's name. If the forms arrive damaged or illegible, request replacements when ready rather than signing unclear documents.
If your spouse does not receive their copy of the agreement, ask Fidelity to confirm the mailing address they have on file. Sometimes mail is sent to the account holder's address only, and your spouse may not see it unless you forward it. Make sure both of you have the same version of the document before signing.
If the conversion is taking longer than two weeks, contact Fidelity to check the status. Delays sometimes happen if signatures are unclear, if the notarization (if required) was not done correctly, or if Fidelity is waiting for additional information. A phone call usually gets the process moving again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add my spouse to just part of my account?
No. When you convert to joint ownership, the entire account becomes jointly owned. You cannot split it so that your spouse owns some holdings and you own others. If you want to keep some assets separate, you would need to transfer those holdings to a separate individual account before converting the remaining balance to joint.
What if my spouse wants to remove themselves from the account later?
Either of you can request to convert the joint account back to individual ownership, but both of you must agree and sign new paperwork. If you disagree, the account remains joint. In a divorce, a court order can force the conversion, but otherwise Fidelity will not change it without both signatures.
Does adding my spouse affect my credit score?
No. Joint ownership of an investment account does not appear on credit reports and does not affect either person's credit score. Credit reports track borrowing and payment history, not investment accounts.
Can I add my spouse to a retirement account like an IRA?
Most retirement accounts cannot be held jointly. IRAs, 401(k)s, and similar accounts must be owned by one person. You can name your spouse as a beneficiary, but not as a joint owner. Ask Fidelity whether your specific account type allows joint ownership before you call to request the conversion.
What happens to the account if we get divorced?
The account becomes part of marital property and is subject to division in the divorce settlement. Your spouse cannot be removed unilaterally, but a court order can require the account to be split, transferred, or converted back to individual ownership as part of the divorce agreement.