November 03, 2010
I find it interesting, I started this blog with the same timing of my journals, only, four years later. Reading through my journals has been so great, so far as helping to recall the sequence of events. Hopefully, it will help you to make decisions in behalf of your loved one with more confidence.
I had been overseeing Arts' welfare for about one month 'at this point' (which is a phrase I will use ALOT). I now needed to contact a lawyer to share and validate my concerns about friends who seemed to be taking advantange of Art. I'd logged that withdrawals from Arts' bank accounts for $100 and $200.00 were evident. Art was being indifferent, and wanted His friend (female) to move in. I was shocked. Something was amiss. I had not gone through Arts' belongings at this point, so I was not familiar with His stuff, but things didn't seem right.
The lawyer met with us at Arts' home on a Friday. She met Art, and asked him personal questions about His history, His wishes for the Estate and myself representing Him. Art really liked the lawyer and so did I. I got the lawyers' name from the Alzheimers Association.
The Gold digging continued for the next few weeks. I would go by Arts' home to check on Him and He would be gone. The gold diggers' car would be in the front.
The following day, I came by to remind Art that the lawyer was coming. I asked Art if He had been giving money to the (gold digger)? Art said, "the money keeps coming in"! Art was very open about sharing private financial matters with strangers and friends that came to his home. Thus, folks took advantage of Him, regularly. In asking the lawyer if there was need for concern, I was told "yes", Art would need His funds to pay for His care, and a felony was being committed against an elderly person.
When the lawyer came by for our Friday appointment, She explained the details of having myself as a partner with Art, in case of emergency or Art needing help with financial decisions, etc. She advised He put money from His checking into a CD or Savings Account connected with the "Living Trust", so He could still have access to the funds, but in the event He were to die, it would not go into Probate (which takes about six months and require fees to process the probates' conclusion). I took Art to the Bank and with His consent put my name on all accounts as Successor Trustee, per the assignment in the Living Trust. This was a weird positon to be in, because here is where the 'rubber meets the road', and YOUR character becomes paramount.
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