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Florida Elder Law Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Elder Law and Gov & Administrative Law for Florida on
Q: Can I be a professional POA

I live in an area that is majority elderly. Elder abuse has become a huge problem and I know several people that have a hard time managing their money. I would like to offer POA services for things like managing bank accounts, paying bills, etc. Am I able to do that without being a lawyer? Am I... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Aug 17, 2023

A person who has been given a power of attorney by another person is called an "attorney in fact". You don't have to be licensed to practice law, to be an attorney in fact, but be sure you don't engage in the practice of law or perform public accounting, because you have to be... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law, Elder Law and Probate for Florida on
Q: Ok, my brother did a quitclaim deed stating my mother signed. My mom was in the hospital on hospice on a vent. Help.

Is it legally binding? The signature of my mother is forged since she was incapacitated and not able to agree to this? What are my options to rectify this?

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Aug 7, 2023

In addition to requesting the court set aside the fraudulent deed, you could also ask for an order to quiet title. If your mother is still living and now capable of making decisions in her own capacity, she will need to bring the action herself. If your mother is still living and now incapable of... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Civil Rights, Elder Law and Nursing Home Abuse for Florida on
Q: I was my mom's 24/7 caregiverNov,22. Still over medicated my sister had her declared incapasatated legal guardian placed

In netral bank cost thousands. Then june23 slapped a unlawful detainer now I'm tresspassed is this legal

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Jul 18, 2023

You need to schedule a consultation with an attorney to evaluate all the facts and related communications. The action against you may or may not be lawful, depending on the details, and even if it's lawful, you may have potential counterclaims for money damages.

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Florida on
Q: Father lives in Tennessee with Girlfriend - got sick while in hospital Girlfriend became POA as family was in Fl - took

Control over all assets changed his Will, sold his car - accessed and closed his 3 personal bank accounts, transferred $ to her accounts ect .. from the hospital my father ended up in long term care / she sold the home they lived in which was 50/50 - took her 50% and moved with her family in... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Jul 6, 2023

You and your father should discuss this with an attorney in Tennessee who is familiar with elder law. It is not, as of yet, a matter of Florida law.

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law and Nursing Home Abuse for Florida on
Q: Patient has late phases of dementia, escapes from secured facility, can they be charged w/ negligence?

No cameras or bracelets

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Jun 29, 2023

Possibly, if the facility was negligent, and if the patient, or the patient's guardian or relatives have suffered damages resulting from such negligence.

2 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Civil Litigation and Elder Law for Florida on
Q: LAWS REGARDING? MY LEASE WAS FORGED WITH MY SIGNATURE & BACK DATED, RETURNED WITH NONE OF MY NOTES, IT WAS 32 PAGES.

1. ON 3/23 I SENT SEVERAL EMAILS ASKING FOR MY "ORIGINAL LEASE I SIGNED WITH MY NOTES". 1 MONTH LATER STILL NO RESPONSE.

2. I APPROACHED ASST. TO THE MANAGER, WHO ADMITTED RUDELY [in front of other residents] "IT'S A LEGAL DOCUMENT, YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WRITE... View More

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on May 24, 2023

First, forgery is a crime that can be reported to the police, and can result in arrest. Whether you should report it in your situation is a decision for you to make based on factors that include the relationship you wish to have with the landlord and any potential retaliation (though retaliation... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Elder Law for Florida on
Q: My daughter was put on my homestead deed. I paid for home and propertry in full. She is now threatening to take it fro

from me. I put her on deed and now she is not adhering to our agreement. She says she can do whatever she wants, it's hers. Help.

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on May 19, 2023

Adding anyone to a Deed is always a potential dangerous change that is not advised, this is the far too common result. You will need to have the deed and circumstances reviewed, but based on what the deed states, your daughter is likely a partial or full owner of the property based on what you... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Elder Law, Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: Do co-successor trustees have full control over where proceeds from a home sale are deposited/distributed?

I am a co-successor trustee with one of my siblings, for my parents trust. They both have passed. We are going to sell their house, which is in the trust. Do we two, as the successor trustees, have the sole discretion on how the house proceeds get deposited and/or distributed? Or, does a third... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on May 2, 2023

In general, the trustees, not the beneficiaries, decide how to administer the trust, including the making pf decisions such as where the trust funds are deposited.

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3 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury, Banking, Car Accidents and Elder Law for Florida on
Q: In Florida if I'm on my mother's bank accounts only to be used for her benefit since she is 93 and has dementia.

If I have a judgement against me can they take all her money. I was recently in a care accident and the other driver has obtained an attorney.

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Apr 22, 2023

If you had automobile insurance, the insurance company should obtain an attorney to defend you against this claim.

If a judgment is entered against you, and the judgment creditor garnishes the bank accounts, you will want to file a claim of exemption. At the exemption hearing, you would...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Elder Law for Florida on
Q: Irrevocable Trust: The Annual Accounting: Cover Letter from Trustee

As a trustee of an irrevocable trust, the CPA is paid to prepare an annual accounting with the cover letter from the trustee. If the trustee provided a sample ( from the trust attorney to the CPA) of how it is required to be prepared and written....and the CPA omitted the 6 month limited language... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Apr 21, 2023

The accountant should send out a new letter correcting the earlier one.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Contracts and Elder Law for Florida on
Q: If a sonis trying to take all the money from his mother, who was recently widowed, and the son and her were buying a hom

The house was only titled in his name without authorization. Is there any repercussions that the mother has to get her money back

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Jan 29, 2023

Mother needs to consult a lawyer who handles real estate litigation in her area to see if she has grounds for legal action, such as a lawsuit to quiet title.

1 Answer | Asked in Wrongful Death, Elder Law and Medical Malpractice for Florida on
Q: how can i help my lawyer get health records from a small living facility that wont give up my deceased fathers records.

it has been a year now. my father was only in her facility for one month. lawyer says they can not subpoena the owner because we are not in litigation. What can i do to help my lawyer retrieve the records.

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Jan 23, 2023

I hope you get a useful answer on this forum, but if don't, the type of lawyer you need to look for to obtain another opinion depends on the reason you wish to obtain the records. If you suspect medical malpractice, contact a lawyer specializing in that area. If you want the records for some... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Florida on
Q: I am 52 widow and am planning to remarry. If this marriage ends, am I eligible for my deceased husband’s SSI?

Deceased husband was already receiving his SSI. I was a housewife for 20 years.

Jason E. Neufeld
PREMIUM
Jason E. Neufeld
answered on Dec 26, 2022

Unfortunately, the magic age is 60 (when your remarriage would not affect your ability to qualify for survivors benefits on your deceased husband's record). The exception to this is if you are above the age of 50 AND have a disability.

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Florida on
Q: Do i have a legal right to copy of my deceased mother’s will, attorney’s info handling her home sale &purchase agreement

My sister is not providing me with any information about my recently deceased mothers home sale which is supposed to be split between 3 siblings, including myself. She recently asked for money for taxes and insurance so the closing would go through. When i asked her for copy of will, PA agreement,... View More

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Dec 13, 2022

I am very sorry for your loss on the passing of your mother, please accept my condolences for you and your family at this sad and difficult time. A copy of the will should be provided to any beneficiary interested party, if not, Florida Statute requires that it be filed with the clerk of the court... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law, Elder Law, Estate Planning and Family Law for Florida on
Q: Can my mother execute a quitclaim deed to remove my father from the deed without a divorce?

She lives in Florida and my father has dementia and we are finding out about unpaid loans and she doesn't want anything to compromise her home.

Barbara Billiot Stage
Barbara Billiot Stage
answered on Dec 5, 2022

No. Only the person named on the title can remove themselves. Your mother needs to consult with a lawyer that practices elder law to see what her options are and if getting a guardian appointed is feasible.

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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Civil Rights, Elder Law and Medical Malpractice for Florida on
Q: Who shall we, the people, contact, to change a statute?

FL Statute 768 is quoted by Lawyers to me, in their efforts to don't present a medical assassins case, every time I consult every Lawyer I've consulted, after a group of Doctors murdered my mother in front of my eyes with their protocols, practices, and deftly persistent actions against... View More

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Nov 4, 2022

So sorry to hear about your tragedy. Florida Statutes are enacted, amended, or repealed by the Florida Legislature, where you are represented by your State Senator and your State Representative. If you don't know who they are, you can find them by inputting your address here:... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Elder Law for Florida on
Q: Can a quit claim deed be both a joint tenancy with survivorship rights and an enhanced life estate?

My cousin tricked my elderly mom into signing a quit claim deed with survivorship rights. When mom passed my cousin signed a QCD that stated it was joint tenancy with survivorship rights, but in the body of the deed it listed only one person as the grantee, it also has an enhanced life estate.... View More

Barbara Billiot Stage
Barbara Billiot Stage
answered on Oct 5, 2022

You need to take a copy of the deed to a real estate litigator as soon as possible. This is a very complex issue and a lawyer needs to see the actual deed to provide advice.

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2 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights, Domestic Violence, Elder Law and Identity Theft for Florida on
Q: My brother robbed us for avrything we own my mother and I are blind and we had to run for our life's the police won't he

The police say its a civil matter he robbed us with a fraudulent POA for over two hundred and fourty four thousand dollars worth of money property and assets

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Sep 6, 2022

You did not ask a question. Re-post to state what you wish to find out or what kind of help you are seeking. Also, we see our on end says, "Orland, CA asked ... in Civil Rights, Domestic Violence, Elder Law and Identity Theft for Florida." State where the events occurred, as it's... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Real Estate Law and Elder Law for Florida on
Q: Can the Principal be/ sign as his own witness on a General POA

My Dad’s “daughter” downloaded some generic General POA form for my Dad January 31 2011 and he was suffering from dementia & a brain aneurysm 10yrs prior. I finally got a copy and it shows him as the Principal ( all her writings not his, including writing his name ) and he also signed... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Jul 28, 2022

No, Florida law (and Florida Statute 709.2105 in particular) requires that powers of attorney have two witnesses. Clearly the principal cannot be the witness to his own POA.

How was it "upgraded" to a durable POA in 2021? Did he again sign it, were there again two witnesses,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Elder Law and Social Security for Florida on
Q: My son’s grandmother through a codicil in her will, set up a Trust for him in January 2000. To date he has seen no $.

The executrix, his adult cousins, have repeatedly refused reasonable requests for access to those funds (for legitimate expenses) since 2014. During that year his father passed and he needed living expenses and medical services. In 2020 to present they have repeatedly refused to relinquish any... View More

James W. Martin
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answered on Jul 15, 2022

Florida Statutes Section 736.0813 sets forth some of the information that beneficiaries of Florida trusts are entitled to receive. You can read it here: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0736/Sections/0736.0813.html . In any... View More

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