She wants her car

karenm64

79 yr old sister-in-law recently admitted to a MC Unit after a fall and broker her arm. We knew she was declining and this accident made us realize she can no longer live alone. We immediately got DPOA & POA Healthcare. She thinks she is in a hotel “that serves meals” and wants us to bring her car so she can go home. Unbeknownst to us, her DL has been exp for 1.5 years along with her car registration & lapsed car insurance. NV DMV will not renew reg. because no insurance & insurance will not renewal because expired DL & you can only get insurance if you are the registered owner - we tried for ourselves on her car.

Every conversation is about wanting her car and getting out of her “hotel.” How do we approach this? How do we get her to sign the title over to us to avoid DMV penalty? My co-agent on the POA thinks it will upset her but I am trying to avoid the penalty fees for her. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

karenm64

Thank you Victoriaredux. I have a lead on an attorney so I will start there. Our POA was the template State form because we were in a hurry. Wish me luck.

harshedbuzz

The car this is really, really common. Dad talked about his car and driving until the day he died. Seriously, the very last thing he asked for was his car.

Is this a secure (i.e. locked) facility?

Assuming it is, can she see the parking lot from her suite or any of the public spaces to which she has access? My dad's room overlooked the courtyard and employee lot was behind the kitchen, so it was not visible to residents. I simply told dad I would leave it in the long-term lot where employees park and leave the keys with the receptionist. No harm. No foul.

Dad sold his car in a fit of pique to avoid me getting it; evidently, he believed I coveted his beat-up Ford Taurus. But he'd forgotten that. In your shoes, I'd take steps to sell the car now either by using your current boilerplate POA or obtaining one that allows this. Otherwise, guardianship is the route you'll have to take. As POA for her financial well-being you have a fiduciary obligation to handle her assets prudently. Holding onto a car that is depreciating and that she'll never drive is the opposite of that. She doesn't have to know it's gone.

HB

eaglemom

The car, I believe, is a sense of freedom. If they lose the car they've lost their freedom. At least that is how I think about it. Therefore, whenever the car is mentioned you've got to have a fiblet ready to go: I had it at the shop and they can't get a part for the air conditioner / heater. The battery is dead and a new one is being sent. I noticed the headlight wasn't working and the wire is broken. They are fixing it. Come up with something to post-pone the car talk and change the subject.

eagle