If I sign admission papers for my dad to enter a nursing home, can I be held responsible for his debts ....

This is questions with "its depends" as an answer. Are your fathers POA, then you have an obligation to use his funds for the nursing home or other expenses in his best interest. Is your father receiving Medicare or Medicaid benefits, depending on the length of stay in the nursing home they are the most likely sources for payment. I would ask for a copy of the admission contract and review with a local elder law attorney before signing. Also beware of Arbitration Clauses, which are now included in many nursing home admissions contracts and generally diminish your legal rights in the event of a dispute or injury in the facility.

Sorry to hear about your father. You should definitely have all the admission documents reviewed by an elder law attorney to make sure you are not personally responsible for anything. Good luck.

Retain an "elder law attorney" to discuss.

Get copies in advance of any documents the nursing home wants you to sign and have the documents reviewed by a competent attorney. You do not want to sign anything that would make you responsible for paying your dad's nursing home bill.Your dad should also make an appointment with an Elder Care attorney to review his financial and legal circumstances. Legal Disclaimer: If this information has been helpful, please indicate below. Mr. Lundeen is licensed to practice law in Florida and Vermont. The response herein is not legal advice and does not create an attorney/client relationship. The response is in the form of legal education and is intended to provide general information about the matter within the question. Oftentimes the question does not include significant and important facts and timelines that, if known, could significantly change the reply and make it unsuitable. Mr. Lundeen strongly advises the questioner to confer with an attorney in your state in order to ensure proper advice is received.