Father passed away, now his wife is liquidating everything

r/

Location: Washington State

Brief backstory: my dad is a successful business owner. He has five children who were all grown when he met and married his current wife. She had made it clear on multiple occasions that she wanted his children out of the picture completely. She has never worked or contributed financially in any way.

Several years ago he began showing signs of dementia, so power of attorney was given jointly to dad’s wife and my eldest brother.

Then, dad’s wife had a different POA written up that named her as primary and my brother as secondary only if she was not available. She had a friend of hers notarize this. According to a caregiver who witnessed this, he had no idea what he was signing.

She then started transferring titles into exclusively her name. Cars, property, and other assets.
My father has recently passed away, and she is stating that there is no will. I don’t believe this to be true, as he kept one in his safe. She says she doesn’t know the combo but is hiring a locksmith to attempt to open it. A sheriff’s deputy has to be present for this to happen, because the safe has firearms in it. She’s not allowed to be in possession of firearms, so I’ve been told she is going to transfer them to HER BROTHER. Not any of his kids… her brother.
I should add that his assets have been frozen while this is in probate.
This is my father’s legacy, in the house I grew up in. I feel like she is doing whatever she can to squander everything he worked for. My siblings are crushed with the loss of our dad, and now his belongings are being given to someone we don’t even know. Everyone is saying this will be handled in probate but I’m worried that by making herself power of attorney, she could have had time to make it look like everything is hers.
Where do I even start with this?

Comments

  1. Disastrous_Garlic_36 Avatar

    You start with an attorney of your own.

    There is nothing here that random people on the internet can do for you.

  2. spacesaucesloth Avatar

    NAL, but had an issue like this happen with my stepmom and her mother. lawyer up NOW. and also get a copy of the first will he drafted, if he was deemed incompetent around the time another was drafted, you can fight to have it thrown out.

  3. Aggravating_Sky_4421 Avatar

    You need to get an attorney like yesterday. Even if you knew what you have rights to, you’d still need an attorney to obtain it legally.

  4. Substantial_Media193 Avatar

    First, I’m sorry for your loss and it sounds like a terrible stepmom.

    Yes, you need an attorney. Specifically one who practices in the jurisdiction of where your Father lived. And preferably a probate attorney who also has some experience or knowledge in elder abuse.

    She can’t use the POA now to do anything. That ended with your Father’s death. But whomever is appointed as representative of his estate would be the proper person to take care of everything.

  5. 99nine99 Avatar

    Dude – seriously – go get a lawyer.

    It’s an awful story but you could have seen the exact scenario coming a mile away.

    If you want to go fight, get out your checkbook, get your own lawyer and go fight.

    Simple as that.

  6. Fun_Cell6622 Avatar

    The Estate needs to be probated and a Power of Attorney cannot be used to benefit the person named as the POA.

    What you need is an Estate Attorney ASAP.

  7. Nonetoobrightatall Avatar

    Get. A. Fucking. Great. Probate. Litigator.