My father became ill with active TB two years ago at which time I brought him to my home to live with my family and care for him. My name as well as my 2 others siblings names have been on his checking account since my mom and dad opened it more than 20 years ago. I wrote checks to pay for my dad's bills and to get him cash and when I wrote a check for anything I wrote what it was for in the comment section. During this time he did help with groceries and when I was not working and was home caring for him (he has dementia) I did okay it with him and paid some bills on occasion from his account. He has recently went to live with my brother(because he would not allow me to have someone come in and stay with him while I worked during the day). Now my brother is accusing me of having stolen 15000 to 20000 dollars from my father!! I am beside myself, I never took anything from his account without his permission and everything that was paid from that account. Sad thing about it my Dad is going to do whatever my brother says for him to do. Can anyone please give me any advice on what I can do?
It sounds like you have documented everything when you cared for your father. Tell your brother that and let him prove it. There is nothing more powerful than the truth.
You could also figure out how much the care of your father would cost if he was in assisted living, etc. (especially taking on the risk of active TB in your home!)
It is appropriate for your father to pitch in for housing, utilities, groceries, etc., that go toward his care. It is not okay for him to be paying the major debts, bills, or living expenses of others.
good luck, these things are never fun.
I hope things turn out well for you, and that your sibling see's the light of day soon.
heartbroken
if all else fails, then sigh and tell the brother to take you to court, prove his accusations, or shut up about it. I truly feel your pain over this. I've had issues like this with my Dad's death, and when we moved my Grandmother out of her home. Everyone seems to be out for a buck, even those we are supposed to rely on for moral support and help. The best thing to do, in my opinion, is to be as calm as possible, and not to counter accuse. Be the adult, if no one else will. The burden of proof is on the brother, and it sounds to me you were reasonable in the use of your father's money.
My Grandmother's siblings took her to court over her mother's care and income. They lost, because they only wanted things for themselves, and were angry that my Gram didn't just hand everything over to the boys. Don't lose hope if he does take you to court. It sounds like you have all your ducks in a row anyway. Good luck with the situation. Hopefully, a calm discussion of why you spent the money and how will be possible with the brother, and he will come to understand.
Alas, they can complain, because they are selfish creatures. They are threatening you with a lawyer? Because your mother is spending her money as she sees fit? What is the lawyer going to do? Too absurd!
Do you have POA? If not, they certainly should be done.
I suggest that you consult an elder law attorney, and set up a care agreement. If it weren't for your selfish brothers, the arrangement you have now is just fine. But to head of any future conflicts it might be best to spell out a cost for room and board and perhaps even for care provided (depending on your mother's resources.) Also spell out that the items she bought for you were in appreciation of room and board up to that point. The lawyer will know how best to handle this. The whole idea of a contract is distasteful, but it may be the best way to stop your greedy brothers, and it may also be a good record in case mother needs someday to apply for Medicaid.
Please see an elder law attorney!
like always when mom and i were done for the day we would go home i would call my sister and we would arrange a time for us to get together. instead, when i called sister started screaming (literally) that i snuck into town to steal mom's money. Her husand is such a slime that he allowed sister to be so abusive? I always knew he was slime and my sister i knew wasn't a whole lot better. I was dumbfounded by the accusation and it took me a while, listening to her screaming, until i realized the whole bank scene lead to these accusations. My mom could hear this entire accusation fight going on and started crying; she was so upset. i believe my mom knew something was wrong with her (alzheimer;s) and now this horrible fight. My brain snapped and i told my sister i was taking mom to s.f. with me. Mom had a hernia that made her look 5 months pregnant. Sister wouldnt let me get two words in, so i knew i had to take mom with me to get the care she needed as sister wasn't being reasonable .....i took mom and mom had the necessary surgery. there were continued medical emergencies but sister would never work with me to get my mom back home to So Ca. Sister has talked to us in 5 years. It is one thing to be accused of a wrong doing but its a double whammy when you also get slapped with the silent treatment for the crime you didn't commit.
these people rationalize their behavior so well that they will never acknowledge their inadequacy, error or mistaken-ness.
1. Of course you may charge your parent for your care, and/or for room and board. In fact, that is often the best practice. There should be a contract spelling out what is being paid for and how much, and the taxes should be handled appropriately.
2. If the caregiver has DPOA, he or she does not need to discuss any financial transactions with siblings, and does not need their approval. A very careful and thorough record should be kept of expenditures of the parent's funds, and all should be done in the best interests of the parent. In many families discussion among siblings may occur for major decisions, but it is not required.
When it comes to siblings, there is something that may make them suspect money is gone. Sometimes people's kids get the idea that their parents have more money than they do. For example, my oldest brother thought my parents had at least a million. How he got that idea, I don't know. If siblings think the parents have a lot, then find out they don't, it must be someone stole it.
I don't worry about my brothers accusing me of theft. They went over the estate with me when my father died, and I tell them now when there is a major expenditure. Nothing will surprise them. My mother, OTOH, can be unpredictable. She doesn't truly trust and can flip in an instant. I wouldn't be surprised if in the future I am telling neveragain's story, but with my mother as accuser. Life is never certain when caring for elders with mental infirmities.
Even if your sister says it now, she can change her mind next week.
You are putting money into a house that you have no guarantee will be yours. Right now your mom has it that the two of you will split the house. Next week she may change her mind.
You need to hire and attorney or speak to an attorney about a new will that states that you will receive the house. Don't let it drag out any longer. If your mother ends up having memory issues then you won't be able to have the will changed. Just my two cents.
I got involved in my parents care and finances about 5 years ago when my father became ill. They had liens on their house, medical bills out of control, etc. My sister and I are DPOA. I've basically been taking care of all the details of their finances with my sister's approval, and signature, with the more major issues. I have kept all the emails between my siblings (I have 8 living) and have documented everything I have done. I do not want any of them to come back at me later on saying I stole money from my parents. BUT, I will say, I do know that one of them will cause a stink, It is a given.