Possible Financial Abuse

[renouncefifty]

Elderly mum has been living with her son and daughter in law for the last 3 months due to her suffering a stroke. She is of sound mind.

I'm her daughter and my husband has been executor to my uncles will (mum is sole beneficiary as no other next of kin) everything has gone ok and he is in a position where he will be able to transfer the money to her as the beneficiary within the next 2 weeks)

HOWEVER
Mum has said to me on the phone that she doesn't know where all her moneys going , her post has been redirected to Brother and sister in laws house and they open her mail. She also says that they have her bank card details.

I'm worried they are ripping her off ( she has bailed them out previously due to money problems)

Mum intends to make some alterations to her own home with the money which is a great idea but I'm so worried that they will pocket this money (around 90k) as they have
Her bank card details and all her post is redirected to their address (I can't even open a new account for her )

I live in the Channel Islands and they are in the north so I can't just pop round as I'm so busy working and can't take leave as it's a particularly busy period.

AIBU to keep the money in a separate account until she's back home and her post is hers again ?

I don't want to accuse anyone but this is such a worry. Any advice appreciated.

If your mum is of sound mind she can ask you to take over power of attorney for her finances so you can have some control over her money. You can call her local adult social services safeguarding team and tell them your worries. Your dh needs to speak to the solicitor about holding the inheritance somewhere safe. With her permission you can contact her bank and the post office, ask for their fraud departments they should not open her mail.

Power of attorney is a good idea. Would you be able to set her up for internet banking so that you can at least see her ingoings and outgoings electronically?

Sorry - incomings, not ingoings!

I think your husband has a fiduciary duty not to transfer the money until he knows it won't be at risk.

she needs to call the bank and have her cards blocked. is she able to use a smart phone to use banking apps.

I would stick the money in a safe account pending her return. If necessary open up a savings account in your name and sign a document that this is a temporary situation until she returns home. She could also write a note to you asking you to do this if she can.
I am wondering why they have her bank card details.
POA is needed. You can do this online then print and post it to her . The other thing is why are they opening her mail? I could understand someone opening an envelope if her hands are tricky but opening, removing and reading it is out of order.

They will probably try and object if they know about it or may withhold the document. It does require witnesses. You would be better off going there yourself and trying to get to the bottom of the issue and do the signing whilst you are there. You will need it to be witnessed by someone who has known her for at least 2 years. It also takes 9 weeks from receipt at the OPG to register. You need to get something sorted before then.
Does your mum live in england or CI? How long before she can leave? Do they know about this money? Wondering if they are holding onto her pending it's release....