Mom has dementia. Anyway, I have taken care of Mom without her helping in any way for the last 3 years. Soon, very soon, Mom will need to go into a Nursing home, as her dementia is now nearing the last stage. In order to set up a trust so that I might be able to take care of Mom's needs for as long as she might live, and also to afford private pay for Nursing home, we need to sell Mom's house. Sister lives out of state is NOT interested in keeping the house, BUT will not even give an answer as to whether or not she will also sign papers to get it sold. One of our brothers is interested in buying house. We have had it appraised and he is willing to allow Mom to remain in the house, rent free, for however long she lives or for however long we are able to keep her at home. The thing is my sister, who is also a POA, likes to jerk people around. It's like a power trip for her ... but Mom is the one being held hostage. Is there anyway to override a POA who is completely missing in action and not fulfilling the responsibility that I would think comes with being a POA?
How about sending your sis two documents by overnight mail, along with a prepaid envelope: One document is the sales contract page with a flag where she is to sign, and the other is a resignation from POA document with the flag for her to sign. With some luck she will sign both.
If she signs the resignation, then you file that with the county, attach it to the other POA, take it to the bank etc just like the first time. That gets her off the accounts.
Anyway, not sure whether to seek legal help, or even how to pay for legal help ... or whether to seek a social worker instead. I desperately need help now.
Thank you to all who have responded thus far. I very much appreciate your advice.
I assume that at this point your mother is no longer of sound mind enough to sign a new POA making you the POA.
I wish you well in working through this mess.