Legal Question in Elder Law in New Hampshire

76 yr old mom repeatedly making unwise financial decisions

My mother who is 76 has repeatedly lived beyond her means. My brother and I have bailed her out on 3 occassions. We finally moved her to and apt. in NH paid off all her outstanding charges...she is now retired and living on a fixed income and in the last year has somehow managed to charge $14,000 on 3 or 4 new charge cards she managed to obtain!!!! We all have our own children and families to provide for...we just can't do this again... what can we do...we have repeatedly explained to her that she will never be able to pay off these charges...she thinks she can and says she can't live without them...My brother threatens her that he'll call the creditors and cancel the cards....what can we really do legally?? My brother thinks we can't do anything unless she was declared incompetent...which she isn't...she just keeps making incredibly crazy financial decisions. What are our recourses as adult children to protect ourselves and prevent the situation from getting any worse...it's really tearing up our family.


Asked on 10/15/08, 10:09 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Vaughn-Martel Charles River Law Partners, LLC

Re: 76 yr old mom repeatedly making unwise financial decisions

You may need to confront the fact that your mother is not be capable of managing her own finances. On the other hand, it sounds like this may be an ongoing pattern of behavior that is now affecting the extended family.

I am fairly confident that attorney Alexandra Golden will provide an answer to your current situation, but if she does not you should contact her at the Golden Law Center in Needham, Mass.

With respect to the ongoing debt, you are not legally responsible to pay her credit card bills, and you are well-advised to contact an attorney in your area who can help you negotiate these debts on your mother's behalf.

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Answered on 10/15/08, 10:47 pm


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