How to protect my mother's estate from a brother who is the POA and not honest?

A POA cannot change a Will or a deed. Only ur Mom can do that. His only responsibility is to make sure Moms bills are paid. He can't take money for himself unless it is stipulated in the POA or a written contract between he and Mom. He can sell her home for her care.

And, he is not obligated to discuss Moms estate or finances with you. He is Moms representative. She is not obligated to discuss these things with u either.

I have read your other posts. You say nothing about Mom being incompetent. If not, the POA may not be in effect and your brother has no say in handling Moms money unless...she has asked him to. There is an immediate POA which gives him the right and then a "Springing" which only is effective if Mom is incompetent.

That would be a question you may want to ask...does your POA give you a right to make these changes? So, the house is being left to you and brother? In the event one of you dies, then the other gets it. Sounds standard to me. Very seldom would it read that a DIL inherits if the Son has passed. It can be written to "trickle down" to the children if one child dies before the parent. But that is not how Mom wrote it. If she wants to make changes, she can. If incompetent, then the Will stands as is. Maybe she doesn't want the DIL to inherit.

The $300.00 was broken down by the attorney at my request after my brother called and said I owe 300 for the call. The attorney broke it down stating she talked to my brother for same amount of time, did the work at his request and help of her assistant. It also included another phone call my brother had with her. He never mentioned that he talked to her and he was the one who wanted the deed changed and requested it to be done. As a favor ti him, I signed it. He himself, never planned on signing it to protect my family as it came in the mail unsigned by him. He just said sign it. I did mention to his attorney that he talks in half truths.
As for my mother she had to ask him to be the poa because I am not in the same state. I told her to look at her bank statements, but don’t think she understands if something was not right.
The worst thing is that I am disappointed with his dishonesty including his wife’s after she told me not to call the attorney Knowing I would get to the bottom of the bill. He should of just been honest. He has always been secretive and would never be open with anything. He has Parkinson’s and I think he may also have some mental issues going on, but knows his money. Probably has the first nickel he ever made.
I am to take over the poa if he can no longer make decisions, but hard know that when that will happen because his wife runs everything. My mother is dependent on them, but worry he may be taking advantage of her estate.

Call the attorney and ask another quick question, or maybe a longer one. Share your concerns about your brother and ask if the attorney is aware of your brother’s behavior. Nothing should be signed or changed without the attorney’s direct supervision and approval. The alternative is to get your own attorney. But be aware that part of a POA’s job is to keep the finances of the person they are POA for private. They are not obligated to share personal financial information with anyone except the court.

Do NOT hire any other attorneys. And avoid calling the current one.

Your phone call cost "only" $45 (doesn't it give you pause that we're typing "only" in front of that charge for a couple of minutes on the phone?)

Logging the call will have cost $x
Notifying your brother - they have to, he is your mother's POA - will have cost $x
They probably have other charges too.

I once had a lawyer who sent me a letter by email - how quick and efficient! I thought - and then by fax - oh good, hard copy too, I thought - and then by post. ??? I thought.

And charged for each format, none of which I had specified.

You should see the charge for "perusing"! You write to a lawyer, it costs you money. He writes to you, it costs you money. You expect him to read and think about what you've written as well? - it costs you a LOT of money.

I couldn't afford him for long but I wouldn't have stayed anyway. Such business practice is near the wind but it's not illegal, and it becomes *extremely* expensive very quickly.

Going back to the seed of your suspicions - one, this is about a will. Nothing to do with POA. The deed is probably a deed of variation, altering the terms of the will subject to the agreement of all beneficiaries affected by the alteration. If you've said no, nothing will happen. Calm down.

As is, the will leaves the property divided between the two of you. If you die, your share goes to your brother. If he dies, his share comes to you.

The variation your brother suggests will mean that if he dies, his share will go to his wife; and if you die, your share will go to your children. Again - if you're not happy with that idea, fine, don't sign it and it will stay as it is; but it doesn't sound unreasonable to me and I'm quite surprised you don't agree with him.

Then how he's managing your mother's accounts and bills... was your mother in the habit of discussing her money with you, when she was able to?