My mother has dementia and is in a skilled nursing care home. Any advice?
There are Three POA’s (power of attorney) for my mother however one of them, my father has now died. We are now told we cannot access our Mothers bank account to pay for the Care Home as one of the POA’s has died. Please advise what we can do ?
I find banks don't hire the brightest bulbs these days. (I still shudder at the teller who once told me she was amazed she got the job because "I can't count!")
Go to the branch manager with the death certificate and POA in hand. They're being ridiculous. If they say they can't help, then ask them to refer you to a district manager who will.
Three POAs is unusual. Two many cooks. Usually it POA andva secondary. Better read the POA and see how its written. Never heard if one is dead the others have no authority. Who reason for 3 POAs. As said, every Bank is different.
Were the POAs all for Dad? Because Mom should have had own. Hoefully she is still on the accts. Banks can freeze accounts when someone dies but not, I don't think, when there is another owner.
I agree that as a temporary solution you can set up online banking for her and start auto-paying her bills. It's easy to do and you don't have to go into the bank or talk to a banker to do it. Just make sure you keep accurate track of her username and password.
If you hit a dead-end with the bank, you will need to consult with an elder law attorney. If you Mother has other investments, or needs property sold, you will meet this roadblock again, and also for her medical decisions -- if she set up 3 PoAs that need to agree for her healthcare decisions.
Take his death certificate, POA paperwork, and both of you go to the bank together, in person, with YOUR POA paperwork, and request upon entering the bank to speak to an OFFICER.
If that person can’t help you ask them WHO CAN. In my state, there were varying degrees of cooperation among the bank officials I came in contact with, but ultimately we always achieved our goal.
Do you have her checkbooks? Just write checks to the facility. Also, access her account online. All banks today have online banking, just set up the online account if you haven't done so already. It's not hard to do.
5 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
Go to the branch manager with the death certificate and POA in hand. They're being ridiculous. If they say they can't help, then ask them to refer you to a district manager who will.
Were the POAs all for Dad? Because Mom should have had own. Hoefully she is still on the accts. Banks can freeze accounts when someone dies but not, I don't think, when there is another owner.
ADVERTISEMENT
If you hit a dead-end with the bank, you will need to consult with an elder law attorney. If you Mother has other investments, or needs property sold, you will meet this roadblock again, and also for her medical decisions -- if she set up 3 PoAs that need to agree for her healthcare decisions.
If that person can’t help you ask them WHO CAN. In my state, there were varying degrees of cooperation among the bank officials I came in contact with, but ultimately we always achieved our goal.