Q: Can I be legally reimbursed (from my mother's bank account) for expenses incurred doing home repairs on her house?
My mother is 86 and in the early stages of dementia. My brother and sister live at my mom's house rent-free, but do little to care for her. They also are trustees of her living trust (which they coerced her to get) and will not show me that document. She needs many repairs to her house (sewer drainage problems, new carpeting, safety grab bars) and has not been to a dentist or eye doctor in years. I live 800 miles away and would like to take care of the things my siblings will not, but I can't afford travel expenses, hotel, food, etc. I do have durable power of attorney over my mom. Can I be reimbursed for expenses related to fixing things for her while I am down there?
A: It depends on whether your power of attorney is durable, whether your authority under that power of attorney is effective immediately or only upon incapacity, and the express powers given to you. It also depends on whether that power of attorney remains effective or has been revoked.
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.
