Relative with dementia doesn't recall 178G account
Family needs the money to pay for her care.
DEAR HARRY: You are our last hope. My father-in-law died about three years ago. His widow is now 90. About a year ago, I visited her and saw an opened letter that showed that she had $178,000 in some account. I was astounded, and I gave the letter to my brother-in-law, who is her last surviving relative as well as her power-of-attorney. Unfortunately, she has dementia and we had to put her in a home. That letter apparently got lost. She has no recollection of the letter or of any such account. We have searched high and low for it. We have contacted everyone who might know of the account, to no avail. We need that money for her survival. We would appreciate your pointing us in the right direction.
WHAT HARRY SAYS: My first move would be to look at her income-tax returns. Look for interest or dividends from a source you have not considered. Look carefully among her 1099 forms for 2014. Search behind her desk drawers where it may have fallen. Ask her bank and stockbroker. Call the Bureau of Unclaimed Property, 1-800-222-2046. I hate to say it, but it's also possible that her power-of-attorney got sticky fingers.
write to him at Daily News, 801 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19107.