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Texas Elder Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Elder Law for Texas on
Q: dad lent mom's car to daughter without mom's consent. mom is brain damaged from a stroke. mom wants car back and they...

won't return it. can I report it stolen? I am their son. the car is in Mom''s name.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Sep 26, 2024

No, you can't report it stolen because you are not an owner of the car. Your mom will have to report it stolen.

Alternatively, if you believe your mom is no longer mentally competent as a result of her stroke, you can apply to court to be appointed as the guardian of her person and...
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1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law, Securities Law and White Collar Crime for Texas on
Q: Sister added to mom's account to pay her bills while mom helped covid son. $200k beneficiary check deposited in account

In 10 months, Sister took over 100K with out mom's permission. When mom, who is 81, noticed she closed the account. Any legal action we can take? Mom is really stressed.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Aug 8, 2024

Mom can sue Sister for any money taken out without mom's permission. If Sister used the money to buy or pay for a tangible asset, mom may be able to impose a constructive trust on that asset to help ensure repayment of the money taken.

1 Answer | Asked in Collections, Elder Law and Social Security for Texas on
Q: My recently widowed mother is being sued for unpaid cc debt has court tomorrow AM.

My veteran step dad recently died so mom doesnt receive $ they used to and is struggling just to survive. What can she do to get rid of these past debts and receive additional aid in the future

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Aug 2, 2024

I'm sorry to hear about your mother's situation. Given the immediate court appearance, she should attend and explain her financial difficulties to the judge. She can ask for a continuance to seek legal advice and possibly work out a payment plan that she can manage.

In the longer...
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1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Texas on
Q: My sister sold our 87 year old moms home and left her with me because My mom no longer had a home

Sold our moms home and pocketed all the money. Now our mom no longer had a place to live.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jul 12, 2024

The only way your sister could sell a home that belongs to your mother is with your mom's permission using a power of attorney or if your sister has been appointed by the court as your mother's guardian.

If your sister sold the home with your mom's permission using a power of...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Domestic Violence and Elder Law for Texas on
Q: How can revoke the granting of a power of attorney?

How can one revoke the granting of a power of attorney in which four out of five children did not participate when at the time of granting the power of attorney the principal presented symptoms of dementia and after one year the diagnosis has been Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)?

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jun 21, 2024

The maker of the power of attorney can revoke the power of attorney at any time by signing a revocation of the power of attorney and notifying the agent and all relevant parties. In some circumstances, it may be advisable to record the revocation in all relevant counties. The maker should also... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Divorce, Family Law and Elder Law for Texas on
Q: Are there any rules that prevent a husband from financially and emotionally abandoning his own wife? Selling assets.

Is there any legal defense a spouse would have against this tyranny?

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jun 12, 2024

Yes. A spouse can file a petition for divorce on the ground of abandonment. TFC 6.005. The wife must prove the husband left with the intention of abandoning the wife and remained away for at least a year. In the divorce action, the wife will be entitled to a just and right division of the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Elder Law for Texas on
Q: am I eligible for medicaid in texas with eligible SS income and resources, but also a testamentary trust ?

My SS retirement income and personal resources make me eligible, but there's also a 30 year old, irrevocable, testamentary, spendthrift trust from my father in which I am the beneficiary, and the trustee has full discretion regarding any disbursements .

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on May 28, 2024

As a general rule, the Social Security Administration takes the position that if a trust beneficiary does not have the legal authority to revoke or terminate a third party trust (a trust created by neither the beneficiary nor the beneficiary's spouse) or to direct the use of the trust assets... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Consumer Law, Elder Law and Libel & Slander for Texas on
Q: How do I find lawyers to sue local MLS and big RE agency, who demand fee from me to disparage my premier property?

Recent national class-action success against these providers is probative as admission but of no avail to my class or me individually, with unique and actual damages worth $350,000 plus treble that amount for DTPA violations.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Apr 9, 2024

You should search in Justia for a lawyer in or near the county where your property is located with experience in real estate litigation and perhaps defamation cases depending upon what you mean by "disparaging" your property.

Unlike other types of cases--especially personal...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Civil Rights and Elder Law for Texas on
Q: How long is the statutes of limitation for Annunity checks?

I have 1099 forms from Nationwide about annunity checks that were supposed to have been sent to me however they had to be sent to Rockwell Automation first because of them being fiduciary. Rockwell Automation was to send them to me, one check was $43,000 dollars, and two for 15,000 dollars. However... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 6, 2024

I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you've experienced in receiving these annuity checks. The statute of limitations for cases like this can vary depending on the specific circumstances and the state in which you reside. In general, the statute of limitations for breach of contract... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law and Family Law for Texas on
Q: Is there Case law regarding the use of recordings of verbal/emotional elder abuse?

I have Power of Attorney for my 95 year old incapacitated mother. I have audio evidence of a sibling verbally and emotionally abusing her. Is there case law to use this recording in a guardianship hearing?

Penny Wymyczak-White
Penny Wymyczak-White
answered on Apr 6, 2024

You cannot use a recording unless you are a party to the conversation

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Elder Law and Probate for Texas on
Q: Can a company just completely keep every thing about late husband's Estate from from his Widow.

My late husbandit was killed suddenly in a horrible accident. My husbands sudden death the way he died devastated me for years. I feel as though everything have been hidden from me. I got no response from my letters or phone calls about my late husband's estate. realize it had been awhile... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 5, 2024

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your husband and the difficulties you've faced in dealing with his estate. It sounds like an incredibly challenging and painful situation.

To answer your question directly - no, a company cannot legally withhold all information about a...
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Q: As the Widow of my late husband who has the 52 utility Patents, should I have been told about the patents?

I have hesitated to to say that my late husband and I were in a interracial relationship. I am Black he was Cacausion, when the companies lawyer contact me about signing over the two Patents, do you think the company or their lawyer would have mentioned the other fifty patents to me or not. I found... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Mar 13, 2024

Your husband should have told you about the patents and, upon his death, when his estate was being probated, the personal representative of his estate should have told you about the patents if that person knew about them. Both your husband and the personal representative of his estate likely had... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Elder Law for Texas on
Q: 1. How do I get visitation rights to see my 89 year old mother? One brother is preventing other family from seeing her.

My mother is 89 years old and has documented dementia since 2014. My father cared for her until his passing in Feb. 2023. One brother took approximately $300 - $400K out of bank accounts and opened a new bank account that has him and my mother both as signers. There is no way my mother would have... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Mar 11, 2024

A person cannot simply declare themselves another person's legal guardian. It requires a determination of incompetency and court order.

A person cannot legally change a power of attorney signed by another person. The person making the power of attorney can do that by revoking a prior...
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1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law and Family Law for Texas on
Q: As Power of Attorney for my mother, am I liable for charges for her stay in a nursing home?
John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Feb 7, 2024

No. A power of attorney authorizes another person (the "attorney-in-fact") to act on behalf of the person signing the POA (the "principle") with respect to the matters identified in the POA.

While a POA might authorize you to write a check from your mother's bank...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Probate and Elder Law for Texas on
Q: I’m the POA and guardian of my grandfather and his estate. He sold it a month before death for 10 dollars. Is it legal?

I have been the POA and guardian for nearly 10 years. Right before his death other family members blocked my phone calls to him. I was not notified of his death and a month afterwards I found his obituary. When I went to the county records office I was notified he had sold his property a month... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jan 29, 2024

If you have been the guardian of your grandfather and his estate for that long, the court that appointed you 10 years ago must have determined that your grandfather was incapacitated and that a guardianship is necessary. Your grandfather's incapacity probably provides a valid basis to set... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Texas on
Q: A man intentionally and knowingly steals property From a elder man.

So a man knowingly and intentionally steals my father's property which he is an elder man. Wild story a man buys a propety next to my father's and for some reason he starts to build a 430,000 dollar home. he found out after he puts down the concrete allegedly than he continues to build... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 25, 2023

I understand your concerns about the situation involving your father's property. If you believe that someone intentionally and knowingly stole your father's property or engaged in fraudulent activities, you should consider taking the following steps:

Contact Law Enforcement:...
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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Elder Law for Texas on
Q: Our family trusts, healthcare proxy, etc need update to address and daughter's last name. Codicils okay? Or rewrite all?
John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Nov 13, 2023

While you can use a codicil to update your wills, it will make things easier and more clear for your heirs, trustees, proxies, and the court if you simply rewrite them how you want them to be now. Once you update them, collect all of the old ones and discard them.

I have actually had a...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Elder Law for Texas on
Q: I live in Texas. Should I file a homestead declaration, or is not necessary? Thanks.
John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Nov 13, 2023

Yes. It will significantly reduce your property tax liability.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Business Law, Elder Law and Energy, Oil and Gas for Texas on
Q: I have an elderly neighbor who was overcharged for solar panels. Can he sue for any recovery of the diffetence to ave?

He also was not properly advised how to get savings and his bill went up from what it was. Plus he was not advised to change insurance coverage and was denied assistance when damaged diring warranty period.

Aimee Hess
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Aimee Hess
answered on Oct 13, 2023

A consumer law or energy attorney will need to review his contract and loan documents in order to determine what his rights are.

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Texas on
Q: How do you go about getting a Power Of Attorney Revoked due to dereliction of duty !

This pertains to an elder person with diminished mental capacity and POA refuses to take care of medical needs and leaves them with sibling with no contact. The person needs to be evaluated as far mental and medical needs which cannot be done without the cooperation of the person with the POA.... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Sep 4, 2023

The holder of a power of attorney has no legal duty to “take care of” the medical needs of the principle.

If the person is unable to care for their physical needs, a close relative should apply for guardianship.

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