My mother fell and was sent to a nursing home for therapy for a limited time but will now become a resident. My sister was made power of attorney and I want to be added to the decision making process since I feel there are some decisions being made in haste.
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Q: Can my sister and I be "co-powers" of attorney for my mother?
Answers (3)
7/12/08 11:22am
Generally, a POA is set up with a primary, and then a secondary person, if the person getting the work done wants it that way (saves getting so many signatures on everything), but I think co-POAs work in some states.
You should check with an estate attorney, as state laws vary. Your mother would have to be capable of making the decision for changes on her legal documents.
Also, there is a POA for health care (a Health Directive) and one for financial decisions. These can be set up differently. If one person is better with money, that person may have the POA for financial issues, but then have a joint POA with siblings for a health directive. Please see a qualified attorney with these questions, as this is bothering you and laws are not the same everywhere.
Carol
7/12/08 11:11am
Does you sister want you to join in her POA? It might work. Check wtih your attorney about it. However, one problem is, at times, there may be urgent need for the POA signature and etc. If you have too many people as POA, it may delay time to get the signature or approval. Just my 2 cents.
Nina
7/13/08 2:20pm
Hi Mary,
I started facing the fact a couple of months ago that I needed a POA for my mother since, I have been doing her taxes and wasn't receiving all the papers I needed from her and was constantly filing admendments. Orginially when the attorney first filled out the POA it was for my brother and I....except either one of us could make a decision without the other. Virtually if I wanted or my brother wanted either of us could have taken her house, money from her account and so on for collateral for anything. I'm not saying that my brother would do something like that, but I felt it best that we became CO-POA's that way nothing could be done without the other's permission. I just felt more relaxed about if the temptation was ever there. I mean we could have gone and got credit in her name and so forth. You, don't want to think that someone would do that...but it is better safe then sorry. Plus since we are really the only relatives that are living, I feel that we both should have the oppurtunity to do what is best for my mother. I think it would save maybe a lot of discontent in the long wrong. I watched these things happen with my mother's other sibilings as they got older. My mother is the baby of 14, and she is 72. So I have witnessed alot of this through out the years. My brother lives in Florida and I live in Mississippi. Matter of fact she has an appointment at the end of July and I have a feeling that I am going to be told that she probably can't live by herself anymore...so now the next sequel is to begin. I pray every day that god will give me the strength to make the right decision for her and help her to accept what she has been dealt with. My mom is very stubborn and refuses the fact that she has a problem...she just feels that it is her age and the fact that she move away from all her friends. This started long before and was never able to get her to go to the doctors. I finally got her in and they wanted to make an appointment immediately but she refused to and my Aunt made her make an appointment for the 22nd. She truly can't remember 5 minutes from 5 minutes before. It's sad. I never thought I would see the day that this would happen. But hopefully she can come live with me and I can be there for all the years that she has been there for me.
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