Mentally unstable brother gets vehicle loan in Mother's name. Any advice?

If you don't want your brother to go to jail I guess it's over. They repossessed the car and does it really matter what your 82 year mother's credit score is? The real question is, Is your brother the right person to be caring for your mom?

Unless you are willing to prosecute brother, your options are limited. The dealership was relying on your mother’s competence with brother bringing her. He is just as culpable.

There is little or nothing that you can do related to the agency because your Mother can't PROVE that they did anything wrong. Don't wast money on an attorney. The deadbeat brother is at fault.

Time for a change, the gravy train is over. (That is in the works.) Thank-you all so much! I knew all these answers. Sometimes it is just good to hear from others that you are making the right decisions and that your thoughts are correct, and do not let emotions stop you from doing the right thing. Him being prosecuted would kill my mother, only reason I would not go after him.

The dealer I feel is as fault too. But, too little, too late on our part. I'll make a couple phone calls in the morning. I doubt it will do any good.

Do you have DPOA?
How did you find out about truck? Its likely other financial commingling. Good your looking for atty cause as long a mom & son are together, the pattern will continue.

What I’d be more concerned about is the future, especially your 82 yr old mom’s future. I’m going to guess that it’s her home in her name that they live in. Mom’s funds (SS$, pension, savings) is what keeps household afloat. Mom gives Sonny $. He has no job, short of the occasional grass cutting. He cannot really hold a job is my guess, so does he have any income?

So is he mom’s legal dependent? Could he be? This is something to discuss with atty as mom may want to set up some kind of trust for his future. You as trustee. If your mom is all about her boy, she may go along with changing things IF it’s for Sonny. Realize that mom does NOT have to do things you or the atty suggests as long as she’s viewed as competent. Selling changes as good for Sonny may be the way to get things done & have her agree and have Sonny not work behind your back to undermine.

Otherwise you’d have to go guardianship route. Ask atty how mom’s state feels about out of state guardians & what costs would be.

Speaking of costs, IF mom had a traumatic incident tomorrow and needed to move into a NH, could she afford it and for maybe 2 -3 years and still cover all her house costs? If not she would need to apply for Medicaid and any $ given or things bought for Sonny will cause a transfer penalty against her eligibility. So could you pay for all for mom & Soony & the House? Really all this needs to be clearly discussed with the atty. I’d suggest you get an atty that is CELA or NAELA as it’s layers of complications. Good luck and let us know what happens as we all learn from each other.

Igloo makes some very valid points.

Doubtful this is the first time deadbeat brother has stolen from mom, right?

I'm kinda hardcore. My brother talked my parents into taking a HUGE chunk of money as an equity line for his "business"--never paid a dime back on it and my folks essentially lost their home over it. I think brother SHOULD have gone to jail for that, but they wouldn't think of it.

Yep, an attorney will cost you something, but hopefully you can get this cleared up. Mom's not still paying for the truck, as it was repossessed. A certain amt will still be owed, but not the whole 27K.

You can deal with this w/o the golden boy going to jail. and really? He's your best option for mom's care? That's scary.

BTW, the dealer is in it for money. I imagine that the "financing" he offered was nigh unto highway robbery. There is no law against that. He's ETHICALLY responsible, but probably not legally.

I'm sorry--hope you can straighten this out.

Frustraded, it might be worth seeing if any trading standards or consumer protection people want to take this up.

You say your brother didn't know what he was doing - do you mean he can't legally form a contract, then? And your mother's 82... well, that doesn't mean she can't read or isn't responsible for what she signs, but I think most people would look askance at a dealership taking such cheerful advantage of her. Is it possible they actually lied to her about the loan contract's contents, or actively misled her in some other way?

Mind you. Why did she not ask how her son was going to pay this money back? And if she can be shown to be incompetent too...

Anyway. You might not get any of her money back but you're surely entitled to stand there with a megaphone and call them rude names!