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Hello,


I've been my mom's trustee de-facto for nine years and officially for the last three years. She originally didn't put me down as a trustee because I have a stress-related illness and she was worried overseeing her care would be too much (she has ALZ). When the time came, the original trustees were unable take on the responsibilities, and my brother, being out of state, wasn't an option given the type of oversight needed (transportation to dr's appts., finding an appropriate living situation etc., ). I wasn't going to take a trustee fee cause I want my mom to have her money - its hers- but the reality is my Mom over the years has periodically said to me, 'honey I hope you are taking a little something" As confused as she is, Mom seems to get what I've done and continue to do for her. In speaking with my Mom's attorney he said that even though I didn't track my hours that as de-facto and current I'm entitled to compensation and should take it so he suggested to do the best I can and guesstimate...which I did and it basically equates to .05% of her estate/per year- about $4500- which when you divide by 52 weeks is pretty reasonable and fair. So, I haven't told my brother and I know I need to, but I'm so paranoid of his reaction and paranoid he is going to fight it. Mom's attorney said as long as the fee isn't outrageous (which it isn't) it will hold up in court (and based on my own research that does seem to be the case) I'm not up to a conflict with him- it'll just add more stress that I don't need however, he knows darn well I've done everything and says as much but I seriously think this will blind side him. And yes, full transparency I'm pissy at him for not stepping up more. Yes he is out of state, but a lot has changed since Mom's journey began and he could be here more but chooses not to. And quite frankly "thank you" and being 'appreciative' doesn't offset the time and stress I've carried (I work full time, married and at one point in school for my masters) So how do I start this conversation???? I'm hoping I'm stressing over nothing but I feel like I need to prepare for the worst. He has this WIFE and he drinks her kool aid..

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See my main response under Taarna's comment.

Unless you really feel the need to discuss with him, I wouldn't. He doesn't do anything or likely make contact/visit, so why should he be included?

Take the funds from the trust, per mom and attorney recommendation, keep track going forward of what you do and the time it takes. If possible, have mom sign some kind of agreement (work with attorney, to be sure it is all legal or necessary) to provide payment, etc. It isn't like you are sucking down thousands a month - a measly less than 400/m to cover some of your time and effort, plus gas is reasonable.

Brother and/or his WIFE don't want to be reasonable, tune them out. It won't become a real issue until after she passes, so let him stay in the dark. If he isn't listed as trustee, he really doesn't have legal need to know anyway. It is nice when we all can work together and be up-front and honest, but not when it will just make waves. Let it ride for now. If you decide to "share" and he complains, tell him he can get this instead, but he or she will have to take over EVERYTHING you do (send a list!) That should shut them up.
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Isthisrealyreal Dec 2019
You would hope, but it unfortunately doesn't shut up the greedy ones.

Doesn't matter to them that you are sacrificing so much for this measly sum, they feel entitled to get their fair share and that term is subjective.
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I decided not to take a dime to avoid this very thing with my own brother.  He does absolutely nothing.  I handle her appointments, pay her bills, wash her clothes, file her taxes...I could go on and on.  I work full time, manage my own home, yard, family and I know I am entitled to compensation, but it is not worth the argument with him.  The fact that he is perfectly fine letting me to everything just confirms what a a$$hole he really is...

Is there a reason you have to tell him?
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Spend a little time "capturing" those costs of caring for mom - maybe a month or 2. Then, you can approach your brother and say that mom's lawyer and mom have "asked" you to be "reimbursed" for the costs of caring for her... Explain that it was decided that it would be easiest to be compensated with a "trustee fee" of …. which pretty much covers the costs as you will show him.

Explaining it to him that way is probably the most transparent and least threatening method I can think of. Since you have trustee-ship and lawyer and mom back you up, you are not doing anything wrong that he should complain of. I would say get this dealt with while mom is alive so there is no difficult discussions after she is gone.
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disgustedtoo Dec 2019
Regardless of whether the topic is brought up or not, Taarna's suggestion to keep track of what you do for a few month's is good. Generally 2 months should cover the bulk of what you have to do, but there will be random appointments, etc. I did start a document with accounts, names, addresses, to give to brother in case for some reason he had to take over (he is also POA.) At the bottom, I used my pocket calendar to post ALL the appts she went to or had upcoming, as well as when I dropped off meds (regular and OTC), panties, etc. I had to keep track of me, her, my cats, and other stuff, so calendar in purse was the best option! It came in handy when I wanted to document all of this. Having it all there supports effort. I don't discuss what I have been using with them. They have issue, tough tookies. Non-local bro did nothing before or since the condo prep/sale, and even that was a couple of weeks when he came up for a week or so (he also got paid for plane fare and rental car, but not gas, for when he didn't drive up.) Other bro - again, didn't do nearly as much, often doesn't even respond to inquiries, requests for comment, etc. For all the grief, I don't feel bad about taking what I do. It has cost me financially to help out AND has ruined 5+ years of retirement. By the time he retires, she'll be gone (he is 10 yr younger, she's 96.)

The amount you have taken is a pittance. It equates to 86/wk, 375/month. As far as claiming income, a good tax preparer should be able to handle this - due to mom's condo being a "life estate", when we sold it while she was still living (in MC), the IRS tables were used, so she got a bit, and the 3 of us got the rest, however we put it all back into the trust for HER. Tax person estimated what this would cost us in cap gains, and I distributed enough trust $ to cover that for the 3 of us.

For the last year or two mom was still in her condo, I became the regular go-to. That was bad enough, it was 1.5hr each way just to get there! I did take over her bills, but except for the initial temp forward of mail to get all bills and change billing address, that wasn't too bad. The appts, etc started to wear me down. Then finding a place, arranging to get her there (she didn't want to move anywhere), getting the bros on board (that was almost as much or more work!), added more on my plate (one bro isn't local, the other often didn't respond to requests for help.)

After the move, more financial stuff, getting rep payee for SS and federal pension, juggling/keeping track of her finances (trust money needed for about 1/2 of her expenses, sometimes needs adjustments.) Then about 1.75 YEARS to get condo cleared out, cleaned up, repaired, etc so we could sell it. Didn't want the RE part of this, but realized local bro would drop the ball too often, so I took that on too. At closing, in talking with atty, I said I didn't take anything as the documents don't say I can. His reply was that they don't say I can't either. Non-local bro had several times told me to take something, but I said no. More recently, as this becomes a serious strain on my fixed income (retired, not enjoying ANY of my retirement other than I don't have to work a "real" job), I do sometimes use her debit card to buy my gas or some little item(s) I need when buying something she needs. Nowhere near 375/m, but just a bit here and there to offset the gas used running around for her!

Even now that local bro thinks it is all taken care of! NO CLUE! There are still appts, OTC and med management, non-covered supplies like tissues, disposable undies, bed pads, calls from facility about whatever... recently I had to defer appts to him or we use transport ($$$) because she has fear of falling and won't stand/walk on her own - I can't support her weight, so that's that. But, there still is SO much that has to be done/managed. Easier now without the condo to pay for, but still takes my time, gas and efforts!
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The standard method for small business people to collect debts is ‘I’m sorry, but my accountant says I simply must push harder etc ….’. Start the conversation with your brother with the same line - ‘Our attorney says I must’. There are also the Medicaid spend down issues, which people usually address too late.
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I think you have answered your own question.
You have legal backing.
As you said, the fee is way more than reasonable. The going rate for aides who often do nothing and show no initiative is $20/hr around here. I doubt that is what you are getting paid.
By being out of state it is impossible for relatives to do much of anything that involves physical labor.
Since your brother is not involved, how is it he will know about your minimal compensation?
I think you feel a moral obligation to inform him and not doing so is generating more stress for you. If he is going to stir things up, he will eventually anyhow, so I think I'd just tell him...or choose not to...the truth speaks for itself.
I was fearful that my only out of state sibling, when our parents whose care I am overseeing are gone, would force me to sell the house, the only home I have known and lived in, so that the estate could be split evenly as noted in the will. She surprised me by having thought that because of all I am doing that it would be left to me. She could still do something, but I don't think she will. Whichever of the two of us survives the other will inherit it all.
Wishing you all the best...
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My brother put $2,500.00 in a savings account for me, I never took anything out of the account in the 10 years that I was taking care of my parents, driving them to Dr. appts., cleaning their house, washing my Dads clothes when he got them soiled, bathing him, etc. I lived 50 miles from them and went back and forth two times a week in good weeks! When my Mother passed, she was the last one to die, my brother asked for an itemized list of what I had spent of the savings account, I of course did not keep a running tally of my expenses and dates. He deducted the $2,500.00 from my portion of the estate!!
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Myownlife Dec 2019
Your brother is pathetic, but am sure you already realize that.
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Justdoing, have your mother's assets been transferred and retitled into a Trust?  Are you paying her expenses from these assets?   Filing Trust tax returns?   

If not, how is her Trust related to her finances?    I get the impression that asset transfers have occurred and the Trust is providing funds for her welfare and care.  

Could you clarify this point?  It affects how you're being paid.  Also, are you the original Trustee, or a Successor Trustee?  It's unclear also whether your brother is a co-trustee or a Successor Trustee, and/or if he's resigned his position, and these issues make a difference in your being paid for your work. 

One of the issues I'm getting at it whether or not your brother even has a right to know or object to the expenditures, including compensation for you.  

BTW, are you documenting ALL your expenditures, with dates, activity, costs (such as mileage), etc.?
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You are confused... Trustee work comes in the form of being designated the Successor Trustee. Successor Trustee position only come into effect once the Trustee becomes deceased, ie, your mom passes away.

What you are interested in is if you have been assigned Durable Power of Attorney over your mom's affairs, while she is still alive, and can you be compensated or paid for doing that work. Do NOT confuse handling and managing your mothers financial and business affairs, property management, fixing broken plumbing or electrical and delegating getting those services accomplished, and compensation for that, which is a professional high paying skill as being the same as doing minor mundane housekeeping tasks, grocery shopping or taking her to the doctor, which is all basic simple low paying house keeping tasks. You need to have Durable power of attorney to be compensated for above jobs, while your mother is alive. You can easily delegate and pay a home care facility to handle the simple day to day tasks. POA fees is for when she is alive and is basically professional management fees, and Successor Trustee fees is for when she's deceased.

Day to day tasks, you should sub out and pay a professional service to take care of minor day to day tasks and give mom companionship, cooking, meals, light house cleaning, take out trash, pick up mail, take her for walks, etc.

Durable Power of Attorney law and responsibilities while your mother is alive is very much like Business Law and the Principle -Agent relationship, along with having a fiduciary duty to represent your mothers best interests while being her Agent to accomplish what needs to be done, and yes, no Agent works for free for the Principle, it's a job, they work, and they are entitled to compensation for said work.
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It It's not your brothers business what you and your mom have agreed to. Just make sure all is legal with some sort of written agreement. Good luck!
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This would be considered income so reportable to the IRS and subject to social security withholding etc. Make sure the amount you charge covers those costs. Get the attorney to make sure it is set up properly.
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It sounds to me like you are letting your imagination take you somewhere you do not need to go. Fees for trustees have been commonly known for a very long time.
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I wouldn't tell him anything. He has not been involved, so why involve him at this point.

As long as it is done legally you should be fine. People are not entitled to know about their parents finances unless they are the DPOA, guardian or trustee. Getting old and ill doesn't mean that you lose your privacy.
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If this is legally done, and your Mom's estate can afford these fees I am not certain why your brother is involved. I personally am doing this for my brother, and it is a lot of work even in the simplest circumstances; I hope less work after the initial first year and after things are ironed out, but by now I feel the Post Office, the DMV, the IRS and Social Security, the Assisted Living place, the Doctors and Hospitals are familiar enough to be like family. A fiduciary handling the care of my brother's friend charges the court/the estate 90.00 an hour, which is considered a reasonable fee. I choose not to take payment. But that is a personal decision.
If you feel you must divulge this to the brother then I think you should mention you have been to an attorney, have advice, will be charging this now, and that if he objects you are absolutely more than willing to turn the entire job over to him, as it is an onerous burden you would as soon not have.
Or just take your fees, and let him go as ballistic as he cares to go when he goes there; keep your meticulous records and on you go.
But don't listen to ME, and DO listen to a lawyer, get what advice you can in writing, and keep records and diaries. Keep this fund in a separate account would be my advice.
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