I'm responsible for my mother's care, finance and also have POA. Can I purchase a vehicle to transport her?
My vehicle is an SUV and she cannot climb in. Am I able to buy a vehicle in her name for her convenience? If so, would I then be able to register vehicle in my name since I am license holder and driver?
I don't think a person can purchase a car without a driver's license.
Then you have the issue with gifting should mom need Medicaid within the next five years. Mom would be penalized $ equal to the cost of the car when Medicaid would not provide a benefit.
I'm sure you can get a car in her name with her money, but check on the insurance. My mom had a car, but did not drive. However, if it stayed in her name, the insurance was for her as if she drove and was expensive because of her age, so she signed it over to me and I paid insurance on it and drove her in it, since she couldn't get in my truck. I'm sure I lost money on this deal, but oh well.
She can buy a vehicle and you can drive her around in it. I would ask your insurance company how much it would cost to insure that vehicle when she is *not* driving it and just its owner. Most insurance companies have a low mileage discount. It's worth checking out. And I certainly would not buy a new vehicle if it's only for getting her around. I would look in the classifieds at what cars you can get that suit her needs for under $10,000. The used car market is insane so good luck.
As POA you cannot enrich yourself. Therefore a car bought and put in your name won't work I think. You would essentially be buying yourself a car in the eyes of the law.
I would see an attorney on this one. It sounds like there are too many ways this could be considered gifting, and realistically you can't risk that. Let us say you put your back out and could not continue in home care? Your Mom will have the cost of a car, average now about 45,000, to make up in look back of five years. Would spell real problems if the car was in her name.
And buying a car for someone who can't drive may be questioned as well, I would guess. If a stairstep system, cannot work for Mom to enter the vehicle you way be looking at a simple lift, which you can purchase safely for her. You can also have a ramp built, but the ramp wouldn't be easily transported other places for her to exit car.
If you go ahead with the car I wouldn't do so without passing it past an elder law attorney. Hope you can work things out. You may be able to do a dealership trade of car (she cannot get into) for car (one she can get into).
I think you can do what you want but if you are using her money and she needs financial aid care in the future that could be looked at gifting.
If you are going to get a new or different car then put it in your name because title can possibly be difficult to transfer.
Another point of concern is a handicapped sticker. In my present state of SC I could get a sticker with my mother's picture on it. She didn't even have to go to the DMV. They wanted a note from a doctor and a picture of her that I took on my phone. I am only supposed to park in handicap spots if she is in the car. I abide by that. In our previous state of NY a sticker was registered as handicap eligibility to a specific car. Here if I switch cars I simply switch the sticker but I don't do that with her sticker anymore, but my husband does as he has his own sticker for bad knees.
Sadly I don't do any of that now as she is quite immobile and now on hospice. She has just stopped eating anything. She will still drink some.
Anyway a very long response but my main message is that rules are different state to state regarding handicap issues which you did not bring up but would be pertinent for you driving her to places.
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Then you have the issue with gifting should mom need Medicaid within the next five years. Mom would be penalized $ equal to the cost of the car when Medicaid would not provide a benefit.
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I would see an attorney on this one. It sounds like there are too many ways this could be considered gifting, and realistically you can't risk that. Let us say you put your back out and could not continue in home care? Your Mom will have the cost of a car, average now about 45,000, to make up in look back of five years. Would spell real problems if the car was in her name.
And buying a car for someone who can't drive may be questioned as well, I would guess.
If a stairstep system, cannot work for Mom to enter the vehicle you way be looking at a simple lift, which you can purchase safely for her. You can also have a ramp built, but the ramp wouldn't be easily transported other places for her to exit car.
If you go ahead with the car I wouldn't do so without passing it past an elder law attorney. Hope you can work things out. You may be able to do a dealership trade of car (she cannot get into) for car (one she can get into).
If you are going to get a new or different car then put it in your name because title can possibly be difficult to transfer.
Another point of concern is a handicapped sticker. In my present state of SC I could get a sticker with my mother's picture on it. She didn't even have to go to the DMV. They wanted a note from a doctor and a picture of her that I took on my phone. I am only supposed to park in handicap spots if she is in the car. I abide by that. In our previous state of NY a sticker was registered as handicap eligibility to a specific car. Here if I switch cars I simply switch the sticker but I don't do that with her sticker anymore, but my husband does as he has his own sticker for bad knees.
Sadly I don't do any of that now as she is quite immobile and now on hospice. She has just stopped eating anything. She will still drink some.
Anyway a very long response but my main message is that rules are different state to state regarding handicap issues which you did not bring up but would be pertinent for you driving her to places.