My dad is 83, has severe dementia and his caretaker/POA passed away. He is at the VA nursing home, 1 and a half hours away from me so I am unable to visit him as regularly as I would like. I am his next of kin but I need to be able to know his finances so I can move him to a nursing home closer to me. I cannot afford a lawyer at this time to obtain guardianship. Do I have any other options on how to obtain that information without legal representation? If not, Is there any type of legal aid I can apply for to help me with this?
Are you really so naïve as to thing that you have valid documents given that they were executed under fraud by omission?
Regardless, I do think it might be helpful if you notifiedthem of her death, and to make sure that her son doesn't have any access to your father's care or VA records.
You could also check with your county's probate department and ask if any will has been filed for her; see if you can get a copy and determine if she left anything to your father that you might be able to claim.
If he had personal effects at her house, you might ask the local PD how to get them since the son is denying you access. That would make me suspicious in and of itself.
I would figure out what is best for your father before I made plans to move him. Your profile says that you want to move him in with you to care for him. I would thoroughly research what that involves before you move him into your home. That type of move would be very concerning for me for a very elderly dementia patient. You would need an enormous amount of in home help. Plus, it can be expensive. If you are tight on funds, I'd be reluctant to take on that kind of responsibility without a lot of research and evaluation.
Contact the VA and ask them if he had filed any of his POA documents with them; they asked us for copies for their files.
What does the Power of Attorney say about an Alternate POA. Most have a provision that says, if one person is not able to serve, then an Alternate is appointed. I'd see if one is provided in that document. If so, then it goes to them. Maybe, your dad named someone else that you are not aware of.
If not, then who is listed as the Payee Representative with Social Security. I might check into that with the Social Security Office. I think they operate only regarding the Social Security check though, not his other fiances. The facility that your father is staying may be able to tell you who that person is.
Angel