Rochester, NY asked in Elder Law for New York

Q: My grandma has dementia but refuses to sign over power of attorney to me, her son. Can I petition a court to grant me

POA without her consent?

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
Stefan Dunkelgrun
Stefan Dunkelgrun
Answered
  • Estate Planning Lawyer
  • Grand Forks, ND
  • Licensed in New York

A: Yes, you absolutely can petition the court. It would be a guardianship hearing, and you will be required to prove that she is not capable of making her own decisions.

Keep in mind that the legal standard for capacity varies from state to state, and can be quite difficult to prove. The mere fact that she has dementia is not sufficient, you need to prove that she does not have sufficient understanding to make her own decisions.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.