My brother put his name on the title of my father's car after my Father passed away. Who can I contact to supervise Mother's finances?

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My brother put his name on the title of my father's car after my Father passed away. Who can I contact to supervise Mother's finances?

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He lives with my mother and says he had to do so. He drives my mother places so he claims he needs to have the car in his name. There was a $10,000 loan on the car when my father passed.
Am I the only one who thinks this is a bit shady? He also spends a lot of time discussing my father's will with his broke girlfriend even though he tell him to stop doing so. Who can I contact to supervise my mother's finances to be certain that all of my dad's money is used for her needs and her needs alone?
My other siblings live out of state and don't seem to care much

Elder Law

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There is no way to know if anything bad is going on from what you write. Sometimes siblings are suspicious of caregiving children. Sometimes it is deserved and other times it isn't. Is there a lot of money to worry about? Or does your brother have questionable character? Is your mother being cared for sufficiently and will her money hold out?

If he was the primary driver of the car and the one who is doing things for your mother, it does make sense to put the car in his name for purpose of registration and insurance. Who is paying the $10K loan that was owed? Does your brother use the car only for your mother or is it for private use as well? Does he have financial POA or is his name on the bank accounts?

It is hard to tell if there is a real concern with the information you provided.

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How did he "put" his name on the title after your father was dead? Did he have a DPOA?

In Michigan vehicle owners of records have to sign off on a title transfer. The purchaser or recipient can't just sign as subsequent owner. So someone must have signed or perhaps forged your father's signature.

If your mother or brother are proxies under a DPOA, then either of them could sign to transfer title to the brother. That's what you should be focusing on, whether or not the transfer was valid.

Who's administering your father's Will and Estate?

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I also don't see any problem with your brother putting his name on the title of vehicle. You'd be surprised how many times a vehicle is used when caring for an elder. Since the title is in his name, he is now responsible for the property taxes [depending on the State/local government], maintenance of said vehicle, gasoline, car insurance, tags, decals, etc. I assume he is paying on the car loan.

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Thank you all for raising some great questions. I am going to have to get some more details before drawing a conclusion. My brother is generally a trustworthy person and he was given power of attorney and he also does a great deal of caregiving.
My father's estate and will is handled by a lawyer.
Thank you all--I will check into the matter.
FYI, I would not "assume" that my brother is paying on the car loan. In my family, I've discovered that it's not a good idea to assume anything.

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I suggest to the writer she enlist financial help from all siblings to meet expenses involved in driving this car with their Mother in it. As she ages, it will be used more and more to accommodate her care. They may want to give consideration to other ways they can show their love, help, and support both physically and financially. The Mother, son, and his girlfriend could be treated to lunch or dinner out once a week or month. Even covering the costs of pizza delivered could convey care and concern and help foster good relations, not resentment.

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Are you sure that is a legal title ? even if your Father passed your Brother would still have to pay the note on that car UNLESS your Father had added the extra Insurance where it would be PAID for if he passed.............Is your Brother on the Bank Account and has legal rights to help your Mom ? if he does there is not much you can do..........shoot ! I have an Uncle w/ 2 Siblings and he had his Mom (age 93) sign OFF on a deed to a house/land ! with his name and his wife's name on it ! what about the 2 siblings !! ? just terrible...

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You can try to get a copy of the title, but often DMV records are confidential and access is limited. I might first check the county Estate office and see if there is a file for the deceased father's estate. That's public record. That file could have a paper trail of the property and explain what happened.

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A lawyer is handling the estate when my mother passes on. But my brother has POA until that happens. My father left a letter of instruction stating that the car title had to be changed upon his death. He did not state which name the title would go under but I assumed it would be my mother's name since everything else is under her name-home, bank accounts,etc. My brother has a car that is paid for so I don't understand why he would need two cars under his name. He would have to pay off the loan on my father's car and pay the insurance, too. It doesn't make sense so I am assuming he is using my mother's money to pay off the loan and to pay the insurance even though the car would be in his name. Does that make sense to you?

My brother has also started cleaning out the house--throwing out tons of stuff and furniture since my father passed on. I keep telling him not to do so because he doesn't understand the value of what he is throwing out and because some of my siblings might want a few things when my mom passes ( I don't want anything he threw out but there is stuff that might hold sentimental value for my siblings. I figured that the lawyer would handle that part when he sells the house.

Also, my brother has a girlfriend who keeps trying to get him to convince my mother to sell the house and move closer to where she lives. I have heard her tell him that he is the only one who should get anything even though the will states that everything should be divided fairly. My brother handles all of banking and financial matters so it is important that he does so with integrity as mother is completely clueless about anything to do with finances and trusts him 100%. He is he golden child and can do no wrong in her eyes.

As you can see, there is a lot going on here.

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I have learned never assume anything. Ask questions and when possible get it in writing. A live in caregiver has a lot of power because they are in all probability
Doing everything and are responsible for more than can be realized. If there is a space for placing boxes to hold throwAways, you could pick them up and go through them. Perhaps you and siblings could meet with this brother and your
Mother to resolve issues and set a few requests...under the circumstances, rules
Is a strong word.

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I just found out that my mother is paying off the car loan with her money and is paying his car insurance. In other words, the car is a gift to her favorite child. My father never intended this to happen. The title should have gone in her name.
He is looking for a free ride--not surprising since he never paid for a car in his life--always got them from the state.

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Toto75...what a great answer !!! I love that idea...!!!!

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My brother put his name on the title of my father's car after my Father passed away. Who can I contact to supervise Mother's finances?

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