How do you set up bank accounts once you've been chosen as a conservator?

I hope and pray that since you are conservator your road is easier than just having Power of Attorney. I had all legal documents and Bank of America refused to accept them. They kept me running in circles and assigned a newbie from the legal department my case and he and I would go back and forth fighting over my legal right to use my Power of Attorney. With them you have to procure and Attorney and literally sue them to accept your Power of Attorney. The thing is THEY have to pay all court costs. What they are doing is illegal and they know it but they do it anyway. It is my understanding that other banks do the same exact thing. It baffles me that we pay thousands of dollars to attorneys to have these things done then have to fight to have them accepted at these institutions.

Best Wishes in your endeavor.

@kkaschke: I guess you don't live in CA (?). I have gone on line and the process here is so complicated, that it requires a lawyer to navigate the system. It can be done by the individual IF they have nothing else to do with their time and can spend hours down at the courthouse jumping through all the hoops. I can't afford a lawyer but I also can't afford the stress that would take on me as my own health is failing after caring for my husband just the past 4 years. Thank you for you kind wishes, you are blessed that your in-laws agreed, a huge blessing.

I'm having a terrible time setting up a functioning checking account for my conservtatorship of my husband in Sacramento, CA. I have all original documents, set up the account at Safe Credit Union and then used the VISA ATM card to pay a couple of small bills. The card was declined. It took two lunch hours on hold before I found out that, because it was a conservator account, I could make deposits, but could not withdraw anything. I am very shocked. I am looking for a bank that can set up a functioning checking account so I can pay my husbands bills. He is in a dementia care facility with advanced Alzheimers.

OK, so you tell the court that the bank is ignoring the court order, who you saw, when you saw them and what they said and did. Have a list of dates, names and actions taken. Ask for their help.

bookluvr,

Yes, that would be true for Guardianship, but I also have Conservatorship. That's the financial end of this. And they've already rejected my POA which is why I was told to get Conservatorship.I'm going to court again on Tuesday to explain. It might just be language in the paperwork that's making the bank balk. It's been a nightmare.I will let you know if I've solved this.

The courts have to abide by state laws enacted by the elected officials/state politicians. It is the clueless politicians who give elderly their rights without being fully informed about the aging issues. Besides, someone has to pay for the big salaries of court officials.

We were fortunate enough that my in-laws agreed to do this voluntarily. I'm not so sure they 100% understand it, but it's in their best interest. It was actually a very laid back process. We went into a small office with the judge, who was just wearing a suit. He explained to all of us what a conservatorship meant and asked my in-laws if they understood it. They said and and the petition was granted. Our first order of business is getting them to a geriatrician. It's pretty sad, Bellas, that you have to go through such great lengths with your husband. You'd think it would be simple since he's your husband and his actions are impacting both of you. Hope you can get through this quickly.

I know that banks can decline to accept durable power of attorney. So, I was appointed Conservator/Guardian of my mother. That process was easy. But now the banks are rejecting this. They will NOT re-name the account to a Conservator for my mother. My lawyer is astonished. There seems to be nothing I can do. Legally I am Conservator but cannot pay any of her bills because the banks will not accept my conservatorship. Anyone have this happen.

I did all of that. They faxed it all off to "legal" and yet the Branch Manager says he has no answer as to why. It's been almost 4 weeks. The latest thing he did was to give me the customer service phone number. "Useless" of course, and I'm trying to escalate the process but so far I'm just out of my mind. I have go to a review hearing Tuesday. The previous hearing the judge was unsympathetic. I don't know what he thinks I can do?

They blame it on "legal" and claim it's the hands of the legal department and that there's nothing else I can do.