Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask

Aunt stealing father's assets

Asked Jul 1, 2012, 02:33 AM — 13 Answers
my father is 80 yrs old and has owned his home since 1974. i moved out of stay a few yrs ago but kept in contact with my dad and he came to visit. last yr he became very ill and his sister was there to collect his personal belongings, key, wallet, etc. during this time i tried anxiously to contact him but his friends and MY family had no clue where he was. fast fowarding... i moved back to dc to FIND him and after3 long months i did but was unable to see him. his sister isolated him and would not let me see him (i petitioned the court for INT). he was admitted to the hosp again so i finally tracked him down and have visited with him every day and he is back to his old self and deemed competent. his sister took advantage of him in his confused/dementia state and had her name added to his financial accts, added her name to the deed to his home (he doesn't remember signing), will not return his keys to his home, his car (which she also claims he signed over to her) which her family is driving on his tags, insur, and registration. she has moved her son into my father's house and says she will not take her name off. her POA will be REVOKED in exactly 2 days but how can we get back into my father's home? how do we get his car, wallet, checkbook, credit cards back from her/them? my father needs his home set up for him BEFORE he's released from the rehab. HELP and THANK YOU!

13 Answers
excon's Avatar
excon Posts: 21,005, Reputation: 15480
Expert
 
#2

Jul 1, 2012, 05:03 AM


Hello 3:

You're going to need a lawyer.

excon
Helpful
Fr_Chuck's Avatar
Fr_Chuck Posts: 72,624, Reputation: 37031
Expert
 
#3

Jul 1, 2012, 05:31 AM


A lawyer and he may even need to press criminal charges.

Also merely being added does not mean he can not just go to the bank and take out all the money ( if there is any left) and open a new account.

If he is still on the deed, he just goes to his home, breaks in and he changes the locks ( it is his home) he may have to let the other person in for now, if he is on the deed also, but he can not be removed from a house he owns also.
Helpful  (1)
joypulv's Avatar
joypulv Posts: 11,983, Reputation: 9221
Uber Member
 
#4

Jul 1, 2012, 05:38 AM
He can call the police to get back into his home, and if he's armed with the paperwork revoking his sister's POA, he should be able to demand most of his possessions back too, at least the ones that don't have signatures attached. Those will require a lawyer.
Basically HE has to do most of this, with your help.
Who was where when isn't so relevant, even if you were out of state when he needed hospitalization. What is more important in the 'she said she said' arguments is what the doctors said at the time each event happened.
Helpful  (1)
ScottGem's Avatar
ScottGem Posts: 58,158, Reputation: 28160
Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
 
#5

Jul 1, 2012, 08:38 AM


Why are you waiting for 2 days to have the POA revoked? He can give you a POA taking effect immediately that revokes any previous ones.

This can allow you to move any money left in his accounts to another account. You can then go to his home and take possession, you can change the locks, but will probably have to give the current occupant a key. At the same time you do this, you hand them a vacate notice telling them to vacate within 30 days.

Do you have a copy of the POA your aunt was given? A POA allows a person to sign legal documents in the assignor's place. It does NOT allow them to take possession of the assignor's property. Once you have an active POA, you can then file criminal charges against your aunt.

It would be better if you have an attorney to help you.
Helpful
3pounds3's Avatar
3pounds3 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
New Member
 
#6

Jul 4, 2012, 10:27 PM
YOU ARE THE BEST! THANK YOU!! I'm feeling more confident!!
Helpful
ScottGem's Avatar
ScottGem Posts: 58,158, Reputation: 28160
Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
 
#7

Jul 5, 2012, 03:16 AM
Glad to help, let us know how it works out.
Helpful  (1)
AK lawyer's Avatar
AK lawyer Posts: 9,943, Reputation: 4217
Expert
 
#8

Jul 5, 2012, 06:40 AM
I agree with much of what the others have written. I would add a comment or two:

If she somehow "added her name to the deed", I assume that you mean she got him to sign a new deed conveying the property to her and himself together. How do you know this? If you have a copy of this new deed, it was probably notarized and, depending on the laws of your jurisdiction (you suggest it may be the District of Columbia, but I can't be sure), witnesses may be required. An attorney he retains may want to ask the notary and witnesses about the circumstances of this transaction.

Some of your post is unclear. You say that you "... petitioned the court for INT". What does "INT" mean? What did the court do? You also write that " he is back to his old self and deemed competent." Deemed by whom? Is this regained competence regarded as being permanent?
Helpful  (1)
3pounds3's Avatar
3pounds3 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
New Member
 
#9

Jul 7, 2012, 08:04 PM
YES, your response was definitely helpful. THANK YOU! Because it was obvious that the court appointed attorney would push for a court appointed guardian/conservator. I withdrew my petition (INT=intervention=guardianship/conservatorship) and his doctors deem him competent. My petition was mainly to get to see my father since his sister had isolated him from me; from everyone. Anyway, my father will revoke the poa and proceed with filing what ever charges against his sister who STILL will not give him his wallet, keys, etc. As for his deed, there are no witnesses but it was notarized.
Any suggestions on how I go about getting him a TRUSTED attorney. I really wish I could contact Lori A. Stiegel, J.D. I love her articles on elder poa abuse.
THANK YOU for the great advice!!
Helpful
ScottGem's Avatar
ScottGem Posts: 58,158, Reputation: 28160
Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
 
#10

Jul 8, 2012, 04:44 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3pounds3 View Post
. As for his deed, there are no witnesses but it was notarized.
Had to comment on this. The above is, in effect, an oxymoron. A notary is a professional witness. So you contact the notary to see if they can tell what happened.
Helpful

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.

Remove Text Formatting

Undo
Redo
 
Decrease Size
Increase Size
Bold
Italic
Underline
Align Left
Align Center
Align Right
Ordered List
Unordered List
Decrease Indent
Increase Indent
Insert Email Link
Wrap [QUOTE] tags around selected text
Wrap [CODE] tags around selected text
Wrap [HTML] tags around selected text
Wrap [PHP] tags around selected text
Wrap [YOUTUBE] tags around selected text
Notification Type:



Check out some similar questions!

A women who is my aunt but not my father's sister or mother's sister, who is she? [ 4 Answers ]

A women who is my aunt but not my father's sister or mother's sister, who is she?

My son and his aunt rented in house in Florida, the Aunt moves [ 2 Answers ]

The rented a house in Florida in July of this year. The aunt got mad at him and moved back to Texas. She told him she can come and go as she pleases. My son talked to the landlord, he said that was a family issue and not his. What right does my son have? Does he have rights if she does not pay...

Determine the amount of total assets, current assets noncurrent assets [ 1 Answers ]

Determine the amount of total assets, current assets, and noncurrent assets at the end of the period, given the following data: Current liability, ending balance $50,000 Current ratio, ending 1:6:1 Owners equity, beginning balance $120,000 Inventory, beginning balance $ 35,000 ...

Is patents ( Intangible assets) added in total assets on balance sheet [ 2 Answers ]

Is the patents (Intangible assest)amount added to the current assets amount on a balance sheet. help Thanks


View more Other Law questions Search