My parent let slip that there is a new will and also that my sibling now has the checkbook. I do not know how long sibling has had the checkbook. Mom said my sibling told her that Mom's previous lawyer had died, so that she needed to make a new will. It looks like my mother believed her. Mom did give me the lawyer's name. Mom said my sister has the only copy of the will.
Mom has been writing large checks to this sibling for some time. I do not know how long sibling has had possession of the checkbook.
All of this may be on the up and up, but I have no way of knowing. Mom is generally secretive. My sibling is a witch. Sorry, but it's true.
Does anyone have any information or suggestions to point me in the right direction? Thank you.
Your mother did not need to make a new will because the lawyer who wrote it died. That raises a red flag.
Also, with you doing the actual hands on caregiving, you need medical POA for your mother so that you can discuss your mother's medical care with her doctor. If you don't have that, then you will be hindered in that area.
It's not clear to me where your mother is living. If with you, or you with her, then your sibling must be making some secretive contact somehow. See if you can find out what's going on in that aspect.
Your sibling apparently is a joint signatory on the checking account if she's writing checks, which I assume since she "has the checkbook."
I'm wondering if your mother is a bit confused about the situation and is just listening to the sibling's "advice"?