Q: Need help to stop niece and nephew from exploiting mother's assets while she is hospitalized.
I have an issue with my niece and nephew who are taking advantage of my elderly mother, who has been in the hospital for almost two months and is incapable of making decisions for herself. She gave my niece power of attorney while hospitalized. My brothers and I are being kept from entering her house because they have changed the locks and have been withdrawing money from my mom's account. We want to stop them from doing what they’re doing and seek legal help. We have evidence and witnesses of the situation, but we haven't spoken to any legal authorities yet. My brothers and I visit daily, and my other brother joins us on weekends.
A: You need to file a petition for guardianship and check the box for an interim guardian. This will get you before a clerk sooner and you will be able to explain the situation. You can also reach out to your county's adult protective services and they may even be willing to help you with that petition.
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