Craig Reaves, past president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, practices elder law in Kansas City, Mo., and fields occasional questions from New Old Age readers. He is a personal friend of mine and a very good attorney.
On the topic of disclosures, a reader inquired about what to do about her family of eight siblings and one elderly father. Long ago the siblings got together and put two of the sisters in charge of their father, largely because his will and other directives advised as much. As a result, they were granted power-of-attorney and access to his accounts.
Now, the reader has discovered that they aren’t forthcoming with information about their father, his care, and his finances. The reader is worried that she won’t hear anything until there’s a demand for money to care for their elderly father, and, perhaps, that the original funds weren’t adequately used.
The response of Craig Reaves is tailored to the reader’s unique situation, but his advice is applicable for many in this same or similar position. As a preliminary caveat, there are specific state laws (i.e., like those regarding “powers of attorney”) that govern the authority, responsibility and liability of agents and fiduciaries.
Read Craig Reaves’ enlightening response in his original post.
Reference: The New York Times – The New Old Age Blog ( January 18, 2012) “Ask the Elder Law Attorney: Disclosures and Loans”
Lorenzo that is an etmrexely good and valid point. Nick is a very clever economist I will have to have a look at his comments.
Posted by: Luan | 02/22/2012 at 10:23 PM