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hdbyker1 Asked April 2014

Bank will not honor my Power of Attorney and has frozen my Mom's account. How do I get the bank to unfreeze?

I am paying for her care. Bank suspected elder financial abuse by my younger brother - which I know was an issue. I recently took full power of attorney for her financial decisions and medical directive. She has been hospitalized several times and I had to move her into an assisted living home. The bank will not honor my power of attorney and I am paying for my mother's care out of my own pocket and cannot afford to do so for much longer. She needs her money in her savings for her care. How do I get the bank to release those funds for her assisted living care?

SoCalGal Apr 2014
We had one of my mom's banks, Wells Fargo, deny POA just to get her tax statements because she crossed out the word "or" and wrote in "and" my brother and I together. Granted, we were both sitting together in front of the man just asking for docs to do her taxes with and he denied us, yet said we could walk in with a death certificate and trust and access funds right away, when we had no desire to access funds on this day or foresee in the future. Very frustrating. Thankfully Chase and Bank of America were more compliant. No suspicion of either of us using the money for anything other than her care at this point.

pamstegma Apr 2014
You will need to petition for Guardianship. See an attorney.

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blannie Apr 2014
Did you talk to the bank? What did they say? If you didn't, go visit the bank and speak to someone in charge about the situation and see what they say.

If that doesn't get it, I'd contact an elder law attorney and get them involved. Did you have an attorney do the POA? If so, start with that person. If you just used one you bought off the internet, I'd get one done by an attorney.

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