brother building up debt at mother's house - what do i do? she has dementia

[barkingbeagle]

My brother came to live with my mother about a year ago. Ostensibly to 'look after her' but in fact he's paying NOTHING towards his keep. I have power of attorney over her affairs as she can no longer remember what day it is, never mind paying her bills, so it worries me that he refuses to pay her council tax, which, due to her condition, she doesn't have to pay. If the council find out will I be liable?

Also I've found out he's started taking out payday loans and credit cards. When the bailiffs come knocking (as they have many times before) how will I cope? I read on one of the forums that I should get a local solicitor to prepare a stack of notarised Statutory Declarations to send out stating that the property and its possessions do not belong to him. Will that be enough? Is there someone who might help me decide what to do?

[leclerc]

Re: brother building up debt at mother's house - what do i do? she has dementia

My brother came to live with my mother about a year ago. Ostensibly to 'look after her' but in fact he's paying NOTHING towards his keep. I have power of attorney over her affairs as she can no longer remember what day it is, never mind paying her bills, so it worries me that he refuses to pay her council tax, which, due to her condition, she doesn't have to pay. If the council find out will I be liable?
If you have power of attorney over her affairs then why are you bothered that he refuses to pay council tax? Is the council tax in his name or her name?
Also I've found out he's started taking out payday loans and credit cards. When the bailiffs come knocking (as they have many times before) how will I cope?
By giving the contact details of your brother and stating that your mother has a medical condition so that should any credit cards or anything else be taken out in your mother's name that they were fraudulently taken.
I read on one of the forums that I should get a local solicitor to prepare a stack of notarised Statutory Declarations to send out stating that the property and its possessions do not belong to him. Will that be enough? Is there someone who might help me decide what to do?

When it comes to family there is no decent way of doing things. I do think that in regards to your brother's financial affairs that you are worrying too much to be honest. His affairs are his affairs. If your mother owns the house then your brother's actions will not have a detrimental affect on yourself unless the house changes ownership to your brother. I assume that her will provides an equal share of things.

[MissFM]

Re: brother building up debt at mother's house - what do i do? she has dementia

My brother came to live with my mother about a year ago. Do you live with your mother too? Ostensibly to 'look after her' but in fact he's paying NOTHING towards his keep. Might he have fallen on hard times and think it is fair to receive board and lodging in exchange for looking after his Mum? I have power of attorney over her affairs as she can no longer remember what day it is, never mind paying her bills, so it worries me that he refuses to pay her council tax, which, due to her condition, she doesn't have to pay. Don't understand this , sorry, either she has to pay or she doesn't?If the council find out will I be liable?

Also I've found out he's started taking out payday loans and credit cards. When the bailiffs come knocking (as they have many times before) how will I cope? I read on one of the forums that I should get a local solicitor to prepare a stack of notarised Statutory Declarations to send out stating that the property and its possessions do not belong to him. Will that be enough? Is there someone who might help me decide what to do?

Hello Barking Beagle

To try to add to the advice above - sorry this is quite confusing. If you have EPA for your mother then you have the right and the responsibility to check all her financial affairs including those relating to your brother moving in and so forth. If you could answer the questions above and clarify things more it would be easier to help?