Managing Mum in law's affairs

Happy_Daddy

Hi - since my father in law died we've been trying to get to grips with all the paperwork. My mother in law is finding this very challenging and would find it easier if we could speak to all the various companies to sort things out on her behalf eg utilities; banks; building societies; insurance; shares.....

We've found out we can help her with the bank accounts by completing a 3rd party mandate form but wondered if there is something similar for the other companies. Has anyone else come across this?

Many thanks

Mojisola

Have you looked at getting power of attorney?

securityguy

Happy_Daddy wrote: »

Hi - since my father in law died we've been trying to get to grips with all the paperwork. My mother in law is finding this very challenging and would find it easier if we could speak to all the various companies to sort things out on her behalf eg utilities; banks; building societies; insurance; shares..... s

You need a power of attorney.

Mojisola

POA does take some time to organise.

In the meantime, I found most companies were quite happy to talk to me on Dad's behalf if he told them over the phone he wanted my name noted on his accounts (British Gas, BT, etc). Other companies wanted a letter signed by him giving them permission to talk directly to me - I wrote the letter, printed it off and he just signed it.

Before we registered the POA, the bank put me on his account as a signatory - I could deal with his account, write cheques, etc but had no ownership over the money in the account (unlike a joint account).

Happy_Daddy

Ooops - just lost reply somewhere....start again

Thank you both for responding.

We don't want to go down the POA route at the moment - sorry should have mentioned that earlier.

Like Mojisola we got many of the companies to speak to us in the early days when we were transferring all the bills over to Mum's name as she was there to give her authority. However, we have tried to speak to Npower recently about their direct debits and they claim not to have any authority to speak to us. As Mum lives 100 miles away it's not easy to sort it all by phone again so we'll try writing letters as Mojisola suggested. Did you have to use any particular wording Mojisola?

Many thanks

securityguy

Mojisola wrote: »

POA does take some time to organise..

But if the need for it is just to allow someone to help, then it doesn't need to be a lasting power of attorney, so would be rather easier.

dzug1

Happy_Daddy wrote: »

We don't want to go down the POA route at the moment - sorry should have mentioned that earlier.

It might be wise to anyway - it gets far more difficult if you leave it until too late and you need to take on deputyship instead


It's perfectly possible to have it in place and not use it much - it doesn't stop MiL doing what she feels capable of

Happy_Daddy

dzug1 - thanks for that. One of the reasons we don't want to go down that route is the time taken, however I must admit my knowledge of POA is pretty limited. Can they be used to manage insurance, shares and utilities or is it just banking?

Mojisola

A POA can only be given while the donor is able to know what he/she is signing - that's why you have to put the paperwork in place before it's needed.

It does not need to be registered until the need is there and it then allows the attorney to act as if they were the donor so it gives control over everything - although the attorney must act in the donor's best interest at all times.

https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/overview

If a person deteriorates and can't sign the POA paperwork, someone has to go to the Court of Protection and ask to be made a deputy - much longer process and much more expensive than POA.

https://www.gov.uk/become-deputy/overview

Happy_Daddy

Hi Mojisola - thanks for the links. I think if we did go for POA we would consider ordinary POA at the moment as it looks easier to set up and Mum has no signs of impending infirmity or lack of capacity. Her main 'problem' is a lack of knowledge of these various issues coupled with a chronic lack of confidence. If we can just take the dealing of the paperwork off her hands she will be a whole lot happier.

Mojisola

Happy_Daddy wrote: »

Hi Mojisola - thanks for the links. I think if we did go for POA we would consider ordinary POA at the moment as it looks easier to set up and Mum has no signs of impending infirmity or lack of capacity. Her main 'problem' is a lack of knowledge of these various issues coupled with a chronic lack of confidence. If we can just take the dealing of the paperwork off her hands she will be a whole lot happier.

That's when we should all sort out POAs. My OH and I have all the paperwork done - the powers might not need to be registered for years but they are there if needed.