Online Bill Pay

[jrwpmw]

What is the name of your state? MO

My name is not on my Grandpa's checking account (I prefer it not be).
But I've been helping him pay bills (I would fill everything out, and then he signs the checks). That was becoming problematic, because sometimes I'm out of town and I can't get over to his house.

A while back we called his bank and setup Internet Bill Pay. This was done with his approval (verbally on the phone with the bank) and it has been working out great!

However, if my Grandpa got sick (incapacitated) could I still pay his bills for him?

Note - I'm not his POA, Executor of his Will, etc. His friend is all of that, and he is leaving what little he has to this friend, which is fine with me, the only problem is that friend is rather irresponsible and my grandpa doesn't want his friend to pay his bills.

Any suggestions? Again, ALL I want to do is help him pay his bills while he is living. I figured once he passes, his friend can deal with everything else. I just don't want my name on anything if possible, and I don't want anything from him. I just want to make sure his bills are paid.

 

[BlondiePB]

What is the name of your state? MO

My name is not on my Grandpa's checking account (I prefer it not be).
But I've been helping him pay bills (I would fill everything out, and then he signs the checks). That was becoming problematic, because sometimes I'm out of town and I can't get over to his house.

A while back we called his bank and setup Internet Bill Pay. This was done with his approval (verbally on the phone with the bank) and it has been working out great!

However, if my Grandpa got sick (incapacitated) could I still pay his bills for him?

Note - I'm not his POA, Executor of his Will, etc. His friend is all of that, and he is leaving what little he has to this friend, which is fine with me, the only problem is that friend is rather irresponsible and my grandpa doesn't want his friend to pay his bills.

Any suggestions? Again, ALL I want to do is help him pay his bills while he is living. I figured once he passes, his friend can deal with everything else. I just don't want my name on anything if possible, and I don't want anything from him. I just want to make sure his bills are paid.

I suggest you take grandpa to the bank and have him put you down as an authorized user of his account. Elders can and do become paranoid and mistrustful of others, even with loved ones when there is nothing and when there is something with which to be paranoid and mistrustful about. It's just goes with the territory of becoming aged. Having as many of his bills set up with auto pay (after Social Security is directly deposited) is another good thing to do. Lastly, since grandpa wants everything to go to his friend, while at the bank have grandpa designate his friend as beneficiary to his account payable on death.