I would like to ask if there is anything I can do to check that my brother is doing the right thing with my mother’s finances and not transferring money out of her bank account to his own family?
Is there anything I can do now to prevent problems and what will I be able to do to see what my brother has done with our Mum's finances after she passes?
Our mother appointed my brother as her Enduring Power of Attorney immediately following the death of our father over two years ago. She has no idea about the value of her own finances and refuses to ask my brother for any more information in fear of "making them angry." At my request she did ask him about the possibility of making me or my husband a second EPOA but he just said no he "won't have that." She believes she has to obey him.
My mother is 84 years old, legally blind and in poor health. She is living in a nursing home now in Queensland after first having lived with my brother and his wife as her carer, for about a year after her house was sold. My brother told her the nursing home "took nearly all of her money and he had to argue to keep extra for her necessities." But from what my father had told us, in addition to owning their house he also had quite a large bank account (with too much in it to get the pension), some valuable shares, and quite a lot of cash at home. I believe my brother has since used that cash to build himself a garage and have an overseas holiday. I understand our father gave the cash to him during a visit soon before his death. My family and I had visited about two months earlier.
My father had purposely spoken to my husband and me together, to tell us to beware of my brother trying to take everything he can after he dies. My father said he had his and my mother’s Wills written by the solicitor so that the house and contents would have to be sold and the proceeds shared equally between both of us, to avoid arguments. The house and contents have now been sold, except for some contents (lounge suite, sideboard etc.) which I believe my brother's family are now using as their own. During that conversation with my husband and me, my father also told us about the cash he had at his house.
When my father had their Wills written he had expected my mother to predecease him, and that has not been the case. My mother has assured me she has not knowingly changed her Will from what Dad had arranged. I believe the Solicitor has been named as the executor.
I will be very grateful for any help you are able to give. Thank you very much.
Is there anything I can do now to prevent problems and what will I be able to do to see what my brother has done with our Mum's finances after she passes?
Our mother appointed my brother as her Enduring Power of Attorney immediately following the death of our father over two years ago. She has no idea about the value of her own finances and refuses to ask my brother for any more information in fear of "making them angry." At my request she did ask him about the possibility of making me or my husband a second EPOA but he just said no he "won't have that." She believes she has to obey him.
My mother is 84 years old, legally blind and in poor health. She is living in a nursing home now in Queensland after first having lived with my brother and his wife as her carer, for about a year after her house was sold. My brother told her the nursing home "took nearly all of her money and he had to argue to keep extra for her necessities." But from what my father had told us, in addition to owning their house he also had quite a large bank account (with too much in it to get the pension), some valuable shares, and quite a lot of cash at home. I believe my brother has since used that cash to build himself a garage and have an overseas holiday. I understand our father gave the cash to him during a visit soon before his death. My family and I had visited about two months earlier.
My father had purposely spoken to my husband and me together, to tell us to beware of my brother trying to take everything he can after he dies. My father said he had his and my mother’s Wills written by the solicitor so that the house and contents would have to be sold and the proceeds shared equally between both of us, to avoid arguments. The house and contents have now been sold, except for some contents (lounge suite, sideboard etc.) which I believe my brother's family are now using as their own. During that conversation with my husband and me, my father also told us about the cash he had at his house.
When my father had their Wills written he had expected my mother to predecease him, and that has not been the case. My mother has assured me she has not knowingly changed her Will from what Dad had arranged. I believe the Solicitor has been named as the executor.
I will be very grateful for any help you are able to give. Thank you very much.