Chapter 8 - The Power of Attorney
We found the cataract papers in a locked drawer in Brian’s office.
Not because I broke in.
Because after police escorted me to retrieve belongings, Brian’s attorney agreed Naomi could review any documents bearing my signature found in shared household filing cabinet.
The drawer contained copies.
One was medical release.
Another was not.
DURABLE FINANCIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Principal:
Franklin Dawson.
Agent:
Brian Dawson.
Backup agent:
Brenda Dawson.
Broad authority over:
Banking.
Investments.
Insurance.
Real property.
Taxes.
Digital accounts.
Gifts within certain limits.
My signature appeared.
I stared.
“Did you sign?” Naomi asked.
“I signed stack.”
“Were you told this was in it?”
“No.”
“Do you recognize signature?”
“Yes.”
Could still be valid if I signed without reading.
Fraud in inducement possible.
But better immediate step:
Revoke.
We did.
Notice sent to every financial institution we could identify.
Then Naomi asked:
“Has Brian used it?”
That became next investigation.
My brokerage had received one request four months earlier to change mailing address for statements to Pinecrest house.
That was reasonable because I lived there.
Then a request to add Brian as “trusted contact.”
Not owner.
Not authorized trader.
I had approved trusted contact perhaps.
Then a beneficiary-change form naming Brian and Brenda 50/50 instead of Brian alone.
Signed through agent under POA.
That stunned me.
“Why would he add Brenda?”
I had never intended.
Brokerage compliance had rejected because their policy did not allow agent to change beneficiary absent express authority. The POA’s gifting section was ambiguous.
They mailed notice.
Where?
Pinecrest house.
I never saw it.
Another request:
Home equity line inquiry using POA.
Bank declined because lender required owner participation for new mortgage and called me.
I remembered.
A young banker called asking whether I wanted $150,000 HELOC.
I said no.
I thought telemarketing.
It had been Brian.
Naomi leaned back.
“This is no longer just eviction.”
“No.”
“Did money leave your accounts?”
We audited.
No major unauthorized withdrawals.
A few checks Brian wrote for property expenses under POA authority after asking me verbally.
Roof repair.
Insurance deductible.
Legitimate.
The dangerous attempts had failed.
That mattered.
No stolen hundreds of thousands.
But he had tried to expand control.
Why?
Discovery gave answer.
Brian and Brenda carried $96,000 in credit-card and personal-loan debt.
Their monthly lifestyle exceeded income.
Brian’s finance job paid well.
Around $142,000 including bonus.
Brenda’s online décor business generated maybe $34,000.
Still they spent more.
Clothes.
Travel.
Club membership.
Cars.
The house was status they could not afford without me owning mortgage.
They expected inheritance to solve everything.
One text from Brian to Brenda:
Once Dad passes, house clears our future.
Another:
If he goes assisted living, POA lets us manage everything.
Brenda:
How soon can that happen?
Brian:
He’s getting weird. Might be easier than you think.
I read it once.
Then handed page back.
My son had not planned to kill me.
There was no evidence of that.
He had planned around my decline.
Assumed it.
Counted on it.
May you like
Maybe even intended to accelerate my removal from house by making me look incapable and unpleasant.
That was betrayal enough.
