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I'm here in Texas and I'm on my mother's account, but whoever said about the POA becoming null and void at the time of death is correct. The problem I am having is, although I have a POA, most banks or Cu's won't accept it to do any kind of lending even tho my POA states I can do financial transactions. Mom has a ton of money in equity but I can't even touch $10K to get her AC/Furnace replaced. It's 23 years old and going out. If I would have known I was going to run into this trouble, I would have had Mom take out some equity before her Alzheimer's worsened. It's just terrible because AC/ Heat is a necessity.
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Reply to AliciaW59
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Generally, the executor of your will has the responsibility to pay your debts from your assets. Any shared property goes to the person who is listed as sharing the property. So, any money in the bank account will go to your daughter upon your death. This can be helpful is she is going to use money from this account to cover burial/memorial/funeral costs from this account. Otherwise, she would have to dip into her own funds to cover your funeral arrangements.

The executor should use all your other assets: house, car, other funds... to pay off your debts after your death. If you have more debts than assets, creditors will try to get family to pay off your debts. Your family members and friends are not obligated to pay off your debts after your death. Please remind them of this now.
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Reply to Taarna
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JEP1954: No, as her name is not on the credit card.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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I was put on my mom's account so I could make payments for her. I didn't have any issues after her death. I think that her will stated that no one is responsible/liable for her debts. She left without debt but the inclusion in the will would've protected the family,as far as I know. In order to assume the account, I presented the bank with a death certificate. This is a smart move on your part, that way she can handle final arrangements,too.
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mommabeans Feb 8, 2025
I'm in NYS, and my mother owns nothing but her bank account where her social security and NYS retirement are deposited. I am co owner of her account, she does NOT have POA, and, at this point with her dementia, CAN'T assign a POA. Being coowner of her account is the ONLY way we can pay ANY of her bills with her money. Without it, all her bills, I would have to pay from my own money, and could not transfer anything from her account to mine, to cover what I had paid on her behalf. My understanding is that when my mother passes away, whatever is in her bank account then belongs to me. It will go to whatever outstanding bills she still has, and closed out. All she has is her income. She has nothing in savings. She spent every dime she had on BS before her dementia diagnosis so she has nothing.
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I am a co-owner on my mother’s bank accounts (not her credit cards) and also hold POA. In recent discussions with the local branch manager (large bank), he said the POA status is halted when primary account holder dies, which can make paying bills difficult during probate period. Mom’s care is currently self-funded but if she needed to go on Medicaid (if it will even be an option down the road), my being listed as co-owner is not great. I intend to (1) confer with local estate attorney (2) move some of the funds to a different institution in my mom's name only. She has funds in Vanguard for which I am already an “authorized user”. Seems like the best option at the moment.
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Reply to christinenc
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Geaton777 Feb 8, 2025
Christinenc, I am currently going through the probate process in FL for my Aunt who passed away this January. I was joint on my Aunt's checking and MM savings. This means when she passed away, that money became mine and not part of my deceased Aunt's estate. I have read on this forum that this may differ by state and banking institution.

I am also my Aunt's Executor. The attorney is having me apply for a special estate Administrator role through the courts. This enables me to open up a special estate bank account into which any post-death funds would go (she had EE bonds that were not yet cashed in, and an annuity check that had not been deposited while she was alive). This is what any of her debts would be paid from. But I would be very careful about moving your deceased Mom's funds around before probate ends. Regarding being an "authorized user" her Vanguard account: this may not allow you to now manage those funds unless you are the Executor (and then you'd need to deal with Vanguard to get them the paperwork). If you were her beneficiary on that Vanguard account, then those funds do not go through probate because they are now yours and not her estates. But to get the most accurate guidance you should definitely don't do anything until you consult with the attorney first. There's lots that can get screwed up through innocent decisions, however "ignorance of the law'' is not a legal defense in court.
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Your daughter does not need a POA to be added to your account. Adding her is a sensible thing to do. Just be sure she understands not to mingle any of her own money in that account and if she ever does write a check it should only be for your benefit. This way you won't have any problems with Medicaid should you ever need to apply.
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Reply to Jennyjenjen
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Generally, no, one is only responsible for accounts that one signs or co-signs for.

I would be wary if the joint account or other accounts in the same name are held at the same bank or one owned by the same company as the credit card. The fine print for electronic payments can be tricky, as can “overdraft protection.”
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Reply to Frebrowser
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No, she can only be held responsible if she's a co-account owner on the cc. Even if she's just an approved user, she would not be responsible.
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Reply to Geaton777
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No, your daughter will not be responsible for your credit card debt when you pass. Your estate will be.

I have no idea how Mom had me put on her acct. I know my name was on the checks. I was not POA at the time. As long as your daughter does not put any money into the acct your OK. Never co-mingle your money. If you did not do it, you may want to make her beneficiary of the acct, POD. Pay on death.

If you ever need Medicaid, any accounts with your name will be considered yours. If there is another name other than a spouses, they will need to prove what money is theirs. My Mom was on my nephews bank acct and the lawyer doing her Will and POAs suggested she remove herself because of Medicaid.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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No, she isn't, but that account, given it is now in BOTH you names means no entity can guess what is yours and what is moms and that is not good.
I always caution folk to do all this the right way. You should have been added as POA and as signee for the account, not as a joint owner of this account. Your funds are now co-mingled with your mother's.
See an attorney to get pointers on how to do this right.
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