Get your money back from a power of attorney abuse

Questioner

My sister-in-law had an authorization from my parents-in-law to arrange the banking. But she has now abused the situation so that she has paid various things for her own private affairs. We can prove this via bank statements. Can we speak to her about this so that we can get this money back.

Lawyer

It is important to know whether your parents-in-law set any restrictions when issuing the authorisation. You must be able to prove that it was clear to your sister-in-law that the authorisation only concerned arranging your parents-in-law's banking affairs. It will usually not be difficult to provide this proof and your sister-in-law must be able to prove that she was allowed to keep the money that she used for private matters. You can then hold her accountable (and possibly enforce it in legal proceedings) that she must repay the money that she paid for her own private matters to your parents-in-law.