Should I, as POA, share financial info with my sis? Our history is not good, and I am trying to cover my butt.

Based on your history with your sister, I don't believe it is necessary to share financial information with your sister as you are the POA right now and she is the alternate. There is enough for you to handle without having to answer to or explain everything to your sister. You will have more and more to deal with as time goes one and it is easier to have to answer to no one. YOU are doing the work. If you no longer want to act as POA, you can change it and have your sister appointed POA.

To me, it is just simpler this way and less conflicts. Good luck to you and hope all goes well. Take care.

There is a reason that you were appointed POA, because your mother trusted you the most. You are not under any obligation to tell your sister anything. I am POA for my mum and I don't reveal anything about my mum's finances, fortunately my sisters don't ask. If your sister is fishing for info., just tell her that as POA you don't reveal your mum's personal business to anyone.

What a mess! My first instinct would be to let sleeping dogs lie. Don't change what you are doing, but keep all the records in case it blows up in the future. If you start sending her information, she will wonder why, and use it as an excuse to cause more trouble. But who knows?

No need to share info. BUT every POA hould keep meticulous records should questions come up. This pertains to checks payable to you or othr family members rather than utility bills, etc. Word of caution -- before your Mom's finances go astray, start to quietly get involved. I started with medical EOBs and residula payments, explaining that with 2 insurance policies it was too complicated. She initially was hesitant, but easily relinquished whenher neighbors all said their kids took care of 'that stuff'. Eventually, I had statements mailed to my home (separate from her address) and guess what, she never noticed! I always left her with some money, and I knew it would get lost ($20) . But by that time, I was doing all of her food shopping etc. If you turn over POA to sis (why would you?) she can't do much from a foreign country. If she then starts taking money from Mom's accounts, there will be little recourse. Do you have a copy of the will? IS so hold onto it, if not , get a copy. Who is the executor?

Thank you for your responses -
The consensus seems to be not to share information. My mother was always closer to my sister. They took holidays together and mother paid more than her share as well as having my sis as a visitor each year when sis basically had a free holiday and did not help or contribute. Sis planned that mother would live with/near her when it was time for mother to be closer to family. Mother lived for years in eastern Canada, sis in Scotland and me in the west. About 15+ years ago mother came west for a visit and shocked me by saying she wanted to move west to be near family. I said that I had understood that she would move near to sis. She said "Your sister would not help me". She was right. Mother has Borderline Personality Disorder, is narcissistic, and recently diagnosed as paranoid. Sis has something, probably a PD, and is narcissistic. I was told by a psychiatrist who saw the three of us years ago that mother was mentally ill but he was more concerned about my sister. He found me to be normal. I have learned over the years to be very wary of my sister. Mother is difficult, but up front about it, sis is devious. There is more related to her winning family money from her children and it is pretty nasty.
I think sis was fishing at one point, and I gave her an answer which satisfied her without revealing anything. I feel that mother's finances are nobody's business, not even mine in some senses, except she needs some help with them.
I think leaving sleeping dogs lie is good. I know I will be "clean" in what I do, and need to keep records of any transactions that I make. So far I have not needed to do anything. I bought her a computer in July, and she hasn't paid me back, but I will wait till she does, as she still does write cheques and handle incidental expenses. She has an account with a cab company, and pays it monthly I believe, she pays a shopper who buys groceries for her with cash, and really does not have many other needs except for a bit of shopping she does herself for which she uses her credit card and pays it off regularly. I have started monitoring her account monthly, as she has lost track of money and thinks it is stolen - the paranoia. Her investments are all looked after by her financial advisor who is a great guy - she has had him for years. He is my financial advisor too, and we have agreed at this point that there is no need to execute POA over her investments. He basically looks after everything for her, visits her, helps her with small stuff, found her a good person to do her taxes etc. He acts like family and has managed her extremely well. I am 5 hrs. drive away, which adds some difficulties, but also protects me from her narcissism.
I hear the caution about getting involved early and that is what I am doing. She gave her credit card number to someone over the phone and then realised she should not have and cancelled it. This is a real warning sign to me as she has been so careful all her life. Next time she may not realise. Pretty well all bills come off her chequing account automatically, which is a blessing. One time she was in hospital, I had to come home before she was released, so I left some money there for her, and she lost it. I would not do that again, but it was my loss, not hers. Re the will, her lawyer has the will and it is safe there. I know its content. I am executor and will hire a professional to do that job, so there is no trouble from my sister. Many times I have thought of giving up POA as mother is so difficult to deal with, but the thought of my sis having access to mother's funds stopped me. I don’t trust her. Now that mother, due to age, is a person sis cannot have the “fun” visits she used to, sis is not coming over any more.
Eventually I may have to take over paying all bills and arrange somehow that mother has enough cash for incidentals. Next time I am in her city, I will get the addresses and phone numbers for her pension people, insurance, utilities etc. as she gets mail from them occasionally and get confused by it, and have that mail directed to me. She has been very "close" about all of that, preferring not to share. I will leave her bank and cc statements going to her for now, as I will get copies from the bank here and, at present, I think she would be quite upset if she didn't get them.
Her latest volley is that money is disappearing from her account. This will, of course, inflame my sis. She calls her ALF robbers and says they are taking money, which has not been authorised, from her account. This is not happening as far as I can see, Oh well - more storms in a teacup. I will see them about a copy of what they are authorised to take and ask for copies of any changes to be sent to me. Not that logic sits very well with mother, but I think it is my responsibility to check out her concerns.
I do appreciate the feedback from everyone. This is not an easy job in the best of circumstances, and made more complicated by mental illness in the family,

Emjo.. I am in western Canada also , can you say what city you are in or would you prefer not to?

Hi macada - no prob. It is on face book! I am in Fort McMurray. AB - oil sands and all that. Mother is in the capital. Would you lie to share where you are?

The geriatric capital of Canada .. Victoria, B.C. lol !! The most beautiful place on earth (in my opinion) :-)

Ah, Victoria is lovely. One of the best. You are lucky. I was on the island twice this past year. G had business in Nanaimo and I have very long time friends who just moved from Cowichan area to Royston to be near a son as they are aging. Aren't we all. We stayed with them in Royston for a few days. Unfortunately, G won't be having business trips there any more, as far as we know, as he was covering till his company filled a position which it has now. I have great hopes that we will return to the island. We both love it. I haven't been in Victoria for years and years. G wants to fish. I am happy just to visit and sight see. You never know. He will retire or at least work part time in a few years so we can travel more.

emjo ..If you do have an opportunity to stay in Victoria, treat yourself to a night at the new Oak Bay Beach hotel. The new hotel is dreamy. Google it and take a tour online.. you will wish you were there :-)

I share information once a year, the annual report. My sisters seem satisfied with that. I am the legal guardian and my sisters live out of state.

It looks awesome and worth it for a treat. Thanks for the tip! During the winters here we need to get away.

pstiegman - thank you - that is a very reasonable suggestion.