Chapter 6 - The Power Of Attorney Was Never Valid
The power of attorney appeared authentic.
It gave Victoria broad authority over Michael’s finances if he became
incapacitated.
The signature looked convincing.
So did the witness lines.
But Michael’s attorney had never drafted it.
The document came from an online legal form.
Its witnesses were Derek and a woman named Carla Jennings.
Carla was Victoria’s longtime friend.
Mr. Hayes located her.
She agreed to speak.
Carla admitted signing as a witness.
But she never saw Michael sign.
Victoria told her Michael had already executed the document upstairs and
needed two witnesses to “finish the paperwork.”
Carla felt uncomfortable.
She signed anyway.
Then she added something nobody expected.
The document had already contained Michael’s signature when Victoria
brought it downstairs.
Carla asked where it came from.
Victoria said:
“Derek handled it.”
Derek denied creating the signature.
He said Victoria emailed him a completed PDF and asked him to print it.
Now brother and sister were pointing at each other.
The brokerage firm had rejected the power of attorney because Michael
called personally and revoked all pending access requests.
That happened twenty-four hours before his final hospitalization.
Michael had moved faster than Victoria expected.
Sarah sat beside Emma later that evening.
The girl asked:
“Was Daddy scared?”
Sarah thought carefully.
“Yes.”
“Of Victoria?”
Sarah did not want to poison a child with adult certainty.
“I think he was scared someone was making decisions he didn’t agree
with.”
Emma nodded.
Then she said:
“That means he knew I needed you.”
May you like
Sarah had no answer.
She just held her.
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