Suppose Aunt Gertrude, who is up in years, has appointed her dear, sweet niece Milly to be her attorney in fact (commonly referred to as her “power of attorney”). What if Milly starts taking actions which take advantage of Aunt Gertrude? What should she do?

            The short answer is to remove Milly. When? Now.

            That, unfortunately, is sometimes easier said than done. Aunt Gertrude may be dependent upon Milly for daily chores, banking, and even simple things like grocery shopping. Aunt Gertrude may feel helpless. There are a few things that can be done.

            First, Aunt Gertrude can phone someone, anyone, whom she knows and ask for help. Ideally, if she is able, she should contact the Area Office on Aging. If that’s not possible, she should talk to whomever she can – a neighbor, a friend from her church or synagogue, anyone.

            Second, it is up to the rest of us to be on guard for our senior citizen friends. If you are suspicious, investigate. Don’t turn a blind eye. Aunt Gertrude is counting on you.

Please contact Mateya Law Firm to help you with your estate planning needs, including the power of attorney document.