Re Ross' half-brother having control over "all" of Leanna's & Ross' finances.
IME, diff ppl use terms 'POA,' 'control, 'power,' & 'agent' to such diff situations, it's imposs to know what authority half-bro actually has.
Could be that half-bro was designated in a POA doc signed by Ross, to apply to all a/c's, assets, property, etc. of Ross only.
Or applicable to all a/c's, assets, property of Leanna and Ross, in so far as each entity allows.
Diff banks, brokerages, & financial institutions have diff procedures about POA doc they 'recognize.'
1. Some permit recognize only their own pre-preprinted, proprietary form, require a/c holder signature on-site. May require notarization, or not.
2. Some accept an 'outside POA' the a/c holder has signed; may require witnesses, notarization, or not, etc.
3. Some accept both.
Let's say, per POA doc,
Ross names, authorizes half-bro to write checks, make dep's & w/drawals, use ATM,
buy & sell stocks; sell cars; change benef of life ins; file fed & state tax returns, change employer benefit a/c's; etc.
How/where would half-bro try to use it (not saying any of these a/c's exist, just hypo a/c's)?
- Ross' single name bank a/c, checking, savings, etc.
- Ross' employee stock-purchase a/c of HD stock or other employer-based benef savings plan.
- Ross' 401k
-Ross' IRA.
- L & H joint name bk a/c? Some fin inst's may allow that, imo, ime.
If, per a/c terms, Ross himself had auth to withdraw all the $$$, then by POA given to half-bro, fin inst may allow half-bro to do same.
If so, look out, LH.
- LH single name bk a/c? Good luck w that, bro, pretty darn doubtful, imo, any fin inst will allow that.
- LH single name other a/c (like Ross' above). Ditto.
Re monthly-type bills (rent, utilities, car payments, credit card, student loans) for whichRoss (and maybe Leanna) is payor/debtor,
IDK, if creditors are concerned about source of payments, as long as the check/auto-payment clears.
JMO, IMO, IME.