Follow
Share
Find Care & Housing
Depending on your relationship with your husband's adult children (before they started driving you crazy) it might be worth all of you visiting with your attorney together so the attorney can explain to them exactly who has the rights to what. I would only bother with this if you feel like they are coming from a place of genuine concern but not understanding their (lack of) legal rights and responsibilities.

Alternately you could ask your attorney to write up a letter to the kids explaining this. Which could be followed by a cease and desist letter if they can't act right.
Helpful Answer (8)
Reply to Slartibartfast
Report
Calicato Jun 16, 2026
Thanks. I have been thinking about that because their latest act was to report me to AFS because I set visit boundaries. The inspector congratulated me for “doing a wonderful job”.
(9)
Report
What they need to realize is that even though your not their mother you are his wife. And a wife trumps children. You were assigned POA by their father because he trusted you to make informed decisions for him when he no longer could. You are his representative. You do not tell his children anything about his finances. I used to tell my brothers, everything is good. I will call you if I need help. If you have Medical, you are the only one the Doctors and health staff should talk to. Your the only one that financial institutions can talk to. I did keep my brothers up to date on Moms health because I knew she would want them to know.
POA does stop at death. After that the Executor of the Will takes over. We had a POA asked to show the Will. Thats not a POAs responsibility, its the Executors.

Make sure all doctors are given a copy of the PO. Any hospitals he may go to. My local hospital has a POA notation on the main screen. Your bank. Since they are done on 11x14 paper I shrunk mine down to 8x11. Then made copies from that one.

Keep good records. My Moms bank statement was my record, I wrote checks for everything. The money came in and it went out. As a married couple, though, you should not have to report your spending to his kids. What is yours is his and visa versa.
Helpful Answer (7)
Reply to JoAnn29
Report

Stop dealing with your husband's children entirely comes to mind.
Helpful Answer (6)
Reply to lealonnie1
Report
Calicato Jun 16, 2026
I wish I could.
(0)
Report
Do not keep them informed of anything is my best advice. They are obviously concerned about their Dad's money/inheritance.
Helpful Answer (5)
Reply to Dawn88
Report

If you are your husbands POA and it's been activated, then you get the final and only say in what kind of care and decisions made on behalf of your husband.
If his children don't fully understand that, have them talk to a lawyer so they can better explain the power of a POA.
But if being your husbands POA is just too much for you and is making you "ill" then it may be time to resign as your husbands POA and allow him to designate one of his children as his POA if he's still mentally competent to do so.
And if he's not mentally competent, then his children can file for guardianship over their father which will cost them thousands of dollars to do so.
Helpful Answer (4)
Reply to funkygrandma59
Report

Being his POA is not too much for me. His children’s behavior is emotionally draining. That would challenge anyone in my position.
Helpful Answer (2)
Reply to Calicato
Report
lealonnie1 Jun 16, 2026
Stepchildren can be a nightmare. I know, I have 5 of them. My condolences to you. I tend to ignore my stepchildren who love to create trouble. I like Slartibartfast's advice to see a lawyer to write up a letter to the s-kids explaining your rights and responsibilities as POA. Which could be followed by a cease and desist letter if they can't act right.
(7)
Report
So, it sounds like your stepchildren are upset about the visit boundaries.
Have you discussed this decision with them? It might make them feel better if you have a chance to explain why you took such action, and to allow them voice their ideas.
I have asked my stepchildren for input regarding their father's care, but, while making it clear that I will be responsible for making the final decision. I want to know what they think, and want them to contribute any good ideas they have. They have to understand that when there are disagreements, not everyone can be satisfied, and you, the spouse, hold control.
Helpful Answer (2)
Reply to CaringWifeAZ
Report
Calicato Jun 16, 2026
They know I set the boundaries because he was in a care home where they had full run while I was out of town, including manipulating the people there for large group visits without asking me. He was abused there physically, overmedicated and traumatized. It took time to get him over that. I explained to them boundaries for visits during that time was at the advice of Hospice nurses and social worker. They then told AFS he was better off at the care home. The inspector praised me for doing “a wonderful job.” This kind of controlling behavior has gone on throughout all our marriage. My husband is 92. I am 86. They are 72, 70, and 65. They are entitled brats.
(4)
Report
From what I read of your replies, you were in the right to do what you needed to do. The facility has the right, too, to ask his children to leave if they are becoming too much for him. You have Hospice on your side and AFS on your side. You do what you have to do to keep your husband comfortable.

When he passes, you don't have to deal with them. Change locks on your doors if they have keys, now. If you do probate using a lawyer, they go thru him. You block them everywhere you can.

Come back and tell us how everything works out.
Helpful Answer (2)
Reply to JoAnn29
Report

I hope you can find a good lawyer.
Helpful Answer (0)
Reply to JustAnon
Report

Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter