Family Friends

So, after three months of having the diagnosis, we are on the way to establishing power of attorney.

This is something that's really important to do while your loved one is still partially capable - when they aren't, court cases abound for trying to get control of their assets.

It's not about greed, theft or avarice, it's about looking after their best interests. Making sure their money is safe; that no one can rob them with magic beans. It's also about making life easier in the long run: try to imagine how difficult it'll be when your loved one needs to go into a home. These cost money. Their assets will pay for this, but imagine the difficulties when you need to access this money for them.

So the document is signed. Me and my sister* are the attorneys.

So why the blog?

Well, we originally asked an old family friend for advice - he was my parents' solicitor for years. All up until they got divorced. He, unbeknowst to us, had retired years ago (we foolishly took Mum's advice for who to use...), and gave us some incorrect information that it was too late for us to establish something like this, as mum was already incapable.

We went to another solicitor, someone who specialises in these cases, who told us that was bollocks, and we needed to get on with doing it right away, which we did.

My sister opened a letter relating to it at my mum's house. I was addressed to me, but I gave her permission.

The "friends" arrived.

They openly and patronisingly berated my sister to her face, questioned her [our] motives, and promised they would fight the document in court! They accused the solicitor of not following procedure, and assuring us they would not allow it to happen.

What the fuck!

How dare they question our integrity. How dare they add to our problems. How dare they fucking well interfere.



*Yes, I know it's "My sister and I". I wrote it anyway.