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My mother-in-law (MIL) has an account Joint Tenants by the Entirety with her daughter. MIL opened the account and funded the account with her money. She added daughter to the account some years later. Daughter claims the money is hers. MIL is in pretty desperate need of this money; it's approximately $21,000. She called the financial institution which sent her a check (made out to both of them), but her daughter somehow stopped payment on it and also wrote a letter to the financial institution not to release any money without her approval. Daughter has no relationship with my MIL, my husband, or myself. I have called, emailed, and texted her. I even told her she was committing financial elder abuse. I received no response. MIL is 79, has dementia, is bedridden and can't care for herself. Her boyfriends lives with her but he isn't capable of providing adequate care for her. She needs either care in her home or to go to a nursing home. If she goes to a nursing home, Medicaid won't initially pay because of the $21,000 account. This is in Florida. I have called Adult Protective Services, but have not gotten anywhere thus far. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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As POA you now need to register yourself with the financial institute so they know to deal with you and to keep you in the loop in all matters pertaining to the account
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this might help you it is by becker-polakoff:

Moreover, to create a tenancy by the entireties under Florida law, unities of time, title, possession, marriage, and interest are required.

Thus, both spouses must (i) receive title in the same conveyance, (ii) hold title to the property, (iii) have equal right to use and possess the entire property, (iv) be married to one another, and (v) have an equal interest in the whole of the property.

If any of these unities are not satisfied, there is no tenancy by the entireties.

AND I WILL BET SHE KNOWS THIS
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thats not the same as joint tenancy in entirety hun. let me go find the details for you
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If your MIL has a check book and can write it she could theoretically write herself a check and you could open a bank account in her name with you acting as POA with that check. You might want to make sure that is right first because in the UK she could that - not so sure in the US
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Ah no you couldn't vis a vis the letter
dammit
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Noble, some banks are finicky about POA. Please call the bank and ask what is required for the POA to come to their bank and do transactions. No need to go into detail (like name and account) because they might feel obligated to tip off 'daughter.' I've read here on this site, that some banks won't honor the POA;s document. They need another form in order to do any transactions with their bank.

Once you get your ducks in a row, if MIL can travel (wheelchair?), I'd bring her to the bank to withdraw her share, open another account with your name on it as POA.

Jude, are you saying that in order for MIL to withdraw cash, that she will need the other signatory? I know that with one of my savings account, my sister and I are named on it. But in order for one of us to withdraw that cash, we need the bankbook (or passbook). No bankbook, no cash.
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Thanks for all of the comments. I spoke with MIL financial advisor today. Both signatures are required to withdraw the funds and signatures must be guaranteed. I have a call into the State's Attorney's office.
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Just looked up tenants intirety thing. Everything I read is between married people concerning property. I could find nothing about bank accts but that doesn't mean they don't have them. I got the impression that upon her death the money will be her daughters not before. Not saying I'm right.
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Again, you'll probably need a lawyer. You'll either need POA or guardianship. You can call the head branch of that bank if necessary and they should be able to lift the block on the account. You may also need the help of APS to get things moving. Give them all of the information as absolutely possible. When I dealt with one specific situation, all of my information was not enough for them to step in, it took two other people with different pieces of information to get them moving. What you really need to do now is to act fast before this other person has a chance to do anything with that money. You really don't want this other person to cause your loved one any more hardship. I can imagine that your loved one probably worked her whole life to save kind of money, unless it came from an inheritance. This is rightfully your mom's money and someone needs to protect her
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Retain an attorney.
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