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We had to sell my stepfather’s house in order to continue to pay for his board and care home. I have durable power of attorney for finances which came into effect when he signed it. The title company made me get a letter from his doctor stating he was diagnosed with dementia and unable to make financial decisions. He is insured through Kaiser and when I emailed his doctor to ask for the letter she made a telephone appointment for a week after the house was supposed to close, so I could tell her what it was exactly I needed. I told the title company this would take too long and I would just bring him in to sign the papers, to which they said they couldn’t accept his signature since I had already notified them of his dementia! I feel they are overstepping their bounds and requiring doctors letters that they don’t need. My durable power of attorney for finances is not springing so they should have just excepted my signature. They said this was for everyone’s protection. They also took my original durable power of attorney and gave me a copy! They said they would mail it to me when they were done. I told them I was very uncomfortable with that and I would like to pick it up instead of having it mailed. Am I crazy, or are they crazy?

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Although I don't have any legal cites for this, I believe that YOU should retain the original copy.    Title copies deal with copies of documents; I've worked with them for years in commercial real estate and finance transactions.  But these were more sophisticated transactions, with title officers who were knowledgeable, experienced and were problem solvers.

I think they're just erring on the safety side in getting a doctor's letter, and I can understand their desire for a copy of the DPOA as well,  but certainly not the original, of the DPOA.     I've always provided only copies.  If anyone planned to keep an original, I'd immediately go higher up the chain of command. 

Go beyond whoever you're working with; ask to speak with a supervisor, and/or tell them that if they want to write the title policy, you expect more cooperation and not a mandatory demand to keep the original.   And they should accept your signature with a copy of the DPOA.

My sister bought her house from sellers who had moved out of town but left a friend with limited POA power solely to sign documents.   I attended the closing and everything went smoothly.   The proxies didn't even attend; the title company accepted the limited POA but didn't require their presence.  

Closing dates can be changed; if they're not flexible, perhaps they shouldn't be handling the transaction.   You can't force Kaiser to move much faster.  And I think whoever you're dealing with at the title company isn't very flexible.

Is this an outright sale to someone, or is there a realtor involved?

You could also ask the doctor if one of her NPs or PAs could handle the issue, writing a letter and e-mailing it to you, coped to the title company.

Stand your ground and DON'T let them keep the original of the DPOA.

Over the years I worked with top notch title officers, in top notch title companies.   But we also were aware that one particular title company engaging in commercial title activities was sloppy.   We avoided that one!
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Did your durable POA specifically authorize you to sell the house? I disagree that you are right. I think the title company was covering their buts.
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anonymous912123 Oct 2019
No, it does not. Of coarse they are covering their butts, the underwriter can make up most anything they want, but if he is there when she signs the paperwork there should be nothing else needed. I would contact someone there over the underwriter and try and get this resolved.
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I had full DPOA for my dad, but there is a state law in NV that required a specific POA for real estate transactions. This could be the case and since he is unable to sign that POA they are protecting themselves and your stepdad.

I would raise the roof about them taking your original POA. That is overstepping their bounds. Seeing the original and making a copy is always acceptable. Everything tells you to NEVER give anyone your original POA. Go get it tomorrow and if they complain, tell them you are happy to use a different title company that will not take your original documentation, incorrectly. If they think having the original is so important then why are they so clueless how important it is for you to have and retain. Remember that you are the customer and you don't have to use their services, there are other title companies, even the smallest town has at least 2.
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You are right, we recently sold my step fathers home, my brother signed as his POA, they are jacking you around.
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When it comes to Power of Attorneys, it can vary from State to State how the wording should be done.

Example, in my State, everything goes smoothly if the address of the house is in the body of the financial Power of Attorney. My Dad had that, and even though he had signed the Listing Agreement, Residential Sale Contract and the dozens of Addendum, he didn't want to bother going to the settlement. He was still of clear mind at that time, but physically it would have tired him out. Thus, I signed the closing paperwork for him.

The Settlement Company needed to see the original Power of Attorney, to which they made a copy and gave back to me the original while I waited prior to Settlement.

The funds received from the closing were wired from the Settlement Company into Dad's bank account. Thus, I had needed to have a VOID copy of one of Dad's checks for the routing.

ABoston, hope everything goes smoothly on settlement day :)
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I would contact a local Council on Aging, Senior Advocacy Center, or whatever agencies you have in your area. They have info & legal advice specific to our many issues. Each case is different & each company we face with our loved one's financial issues have their own rules. What happened to or worked for one may not work for us. Ask the legal experts.
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My lawyer did probate for me which involved selling my house. A title agencies job is to make sure a house has no leans and the owner owns it free and clear. I see no problem in them having a COPY. I had my POA copied and shrunk to 8x11. A size I could copy on my printer. Everyone that wanted proof, got a copy. I agree that they need to cover their tracks.

Make sure at the sale of the house, u or your lawyer ask for the original. A person from the Title agency should be present.
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Thinking this over, I think you might be dealing with some very inexperienced people, who just haven't dealt with POA authorizations.   

I think I'd be getting aggressive and telling them that they need to get someone who's experienced, IMMEDIATELY return your original, or you'll be finding someone else, and filing a complaint.

I don't have time right now to do more research, but I believe that the ALTA (American Land Title Assn.) might have some oversight role for problem title companies.  

https://www.alta.org/about/


BTW, who chose this company?  Was it a realtor?
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worriedinCali Oct 2019
The OP seems to be more concerned about the doctors letter of incompetence but the responders here seem to be overlooking that? They will be getting the original POA back per the end of their post....
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Thank you for all your responses. I did find one of his doctors to give me the letter, and I didn’t want to try to find another title company because I didn’t want to hold escrow closing for the buyers. They clarified that they needed the original durable power of attorney to record at closing. I live in California so I don’t know if that’s something unique here or not. This whole process has been pretty frustrating. They said I will even have to sign a statement that the proceeds from the sale will go to his benefit. I know that is a responsibility of someone who has POA, but is it the title company‘s responsibility to make me prove I’m going to use the funds correctly? Anyway I will be so happy when the house finally closes… Should be this week.
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They're not crazy. It is frustrating, expensive, time-consuming and in your case no doubt unnecessary; but you only have to think of the potential for abuse of powers of attorney to see why an abundance of caution is the lesser evil. Is it all sorted out now?

You want to keep several - what's the word, senior moment - oh for goodness sake! - certified? - anyway, originals of the document! That's another tip that never seems to get mentioned until you need them and you're facing weeks of waiting to get more.

There should be a check list for POAs of ways to jump the obstacles that everyone throws in their path.
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