Mother Thinks Possibly Got Ripped Off by Elder Attorney

[jenny-rose]

Indiana. My mother hired an elder attorney when we were forced to put my dad into a nursing home (Alzheimer's). My parents had pinched their pennies all their life but the elder attorney was having Mother spend a fairly significant amount of money - which I understand, BUT, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS missing from Mother's checking/savings account that she cannot account for. She told me she never even got a statement from the elder attorney stating what she took for fees or anything else but the lawyer was eager to want to be my mom's Power of Attorney under the guise of just "helping her out." Mom said "no." I know there's a 2 year statute on a lot of stuff and my dad died a little over 2 years ago. Can I call this lawyer and have her prepare a detailed statement of what she did WITHOUT her presenting us with a bill for additional services rendered? Thanks to anyone who can help us.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

Contact the bar association and file a complaint about fees, most have a process to mediate fee disputes.

 

[seniorjudge]

Indiana. My mother hired an elder attorney when we were forced to put my dad into a nursing home (Alzheimer's). My parents had pinched their pennies all their life but the elder attorney was having Mother spend a fairly significant amount of money - which I understand, BUT, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS missing from Mother's checking/savings account that she cannot account for. She told me she never even got a statement from the elder attorney stating what she took for fees or anything else but the lawyer was eager to want to be my mom's Power of Attorney under the guise of just "helping her out." Mom said "no." I know there's a 2 year statute on a lot of stuff and my dad died a little over 2 years ago. Can I call this lawyer and have her prepare a detailed statement of what she did WITHOUT her presenting us with a bill for additional services rendered? Thanks to anyone who can help us.

Indiana State Bar Association
http://www.inbar.org/
Website for the Indiana State Bar Association.


File a complaint with these people.

 

[jenny-rose]

Is a Handwritten Will Legal?

Indiana. Thanks, Sr. Judge re: elder attorney possible abuse.

Is a handwritten will legal, and does it have to be notorized by 1 or 2 non -relatives? Thanks.

 

[seniorjudge]

Indiana. Thanks, Sr. Judge re: elder attorney possible abuse.

Is a handwritten will legal, and does it have to be notorized by 1 or 2 non -relatives? Thanks.

https://law.freeadvice.com/estate_planning/wills/holographic_will.htm

I do not know the state law in Indiana on this; holographic wills generally are very restricted in what they can pass. E.g., some states do not allow real property to be passed by a holographic will. Also, they are very hard to prove.

If you need to make a will, go see an ethical attorney.

 

[jenny-rose]

Thanks for advice. My mom does not like attorneys.

 

[seniorjudge]

Thanks for advice. My mom does not like attorneys.

90% of lawyers give the other ten percent of us a bad name.

 

[BlondiePB]

jenny-rose, your mother also needs to revoke the POA. If mom has dementia, then she needs a guardian/conservator which will invalidate the POA.