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How do I get out of being someone's Power of Attorney? No idea I was financially responsible for their mess!
Anonymous2 views1 answers
I am currently my mother's power of attorney. She is in an assisted living facility in another state. I found out through her Medicaid care manager that my mother's mail from Social Security is missing. My father took it - he divorced my mother because he didn't want to take care of her medically and financially anymore, after 41 years. He is trying to get any money he can out of my mom. She has Multiple Sclerosis and is clueless to what is actually going on. Anyway, I have no control of her paperwork, and now I am getting phone calls that my mother owes thousands of dollars for medical care that I did not even know she was receiving. PLEASE HELP!!!
First, you do NOT step into having "financial responsibility" for your mother, merely because you hold Power of Attorney. That grants you the RIGHT to act on her behalf. With some guidance, it can be immensely less complicated. You should consult an attorney at your earliest convenience. You will want to communicate with Social Security and arrange for the mail and checks to come to you, or direct deposit to an account set up for you mother as a special account with you alone as signatory, "as attorney-in-fact" for your mother. There are good attorneys right there in Frederick who can help you on this, or direct you to someone who can help you. If you call my office, we can provide you with a few to consider or to speak with. Good luck. It is a trying time right now, but no need to run the other way. You father's activity can be stopped, and if need be it can even be turned over to the State's Attorney's Office.
