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rainbow2 Asked May 2014

Possible for DPOA ability to change the Will?

My mother is 97 and has dementia. I have Durable Power of Attorney over her. Her will states the names of my brother, two grandchildren, and myself. The two grandchildren are the only ones listed in the will. She has numerous grandchildren and left them off the will. This has caused dissention amongst the other grandchildren not listed in the will. Is it possible as Durable Power of Attorney to have the two grandchildren that are listed in the will be removed?

GardenArtist May 2014
Absolutely not; it's beyond the scope of your authority to change her wishes. If she didn't want the other grandchildren to inherit, she had her reasons, whatever they were and those need to be respected.

Assuming she had a good attorney when she executed the Will, he/she would have established enough of a rapport that he/she could make some reasonable estimation of her sound mind. It's therefore not for anyone to challenge or change her desires.

It is difficult being a neutral party within a family, and I can understand that this is difficult for you. You want to keep peace in the family.

On the other hand, no one has the absolute right to expect to inherit anything, and the grandchildren who were left out really have no justification to be upset.

pamstegma May 2014
No, it is not possible at this point. The Will can be challenged in court after her death. More often the beneficiaries of the estate will pass on a portion of their inheritance as a gift to those who were left out.

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notrydoyoda May 2014
I'm sorry for your situation. This is one reason that wills need to be updated. However, a person with durable POA does not have the authority to change or to write a will. Is your mother's dementia so bad that she is no longer competent to change the will herself?

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