Chapter 7 - THE POWER OF ATTORNEY
Arthur wanted to revoke the power of attorney immediately.
Mara advised him to do it carefully.
They executed a formal revocation.
Notified banks.
Notified the land trust.
Notified physicians.
Filed notice with relevant institutions.
Then the trust protector appointed an independent temporary co-signatory for any land transaction.
Elaine’s route to unilateral control closed.
Her attorney accused Arthur of overreaction.
Then filed for temporary access to marital accounts.
Fair.
Elaine still had ordinary legal rights as a spouse.
Arthur could not simply freeze her out of everything.
Mara reminded him:
“This is exactly where people make stupid mistakes because they feel morally right.”
Arthur hated hearing it.
He followed the process anyway.
Then Arthur underwent independent cognitive testing.
He dreaded it more than court.
The neuropsychologist tested memory, reasoning, attention, planning, language, and executive function.
Arthur made mistakes.
That frightened him.
Then she explained:
“Everybody makes mistakes.”
He looked at her.
“Do I have dementia?”
“No evidence of a major neurocognitive disorder.”
“Am I normal?”
She smiled.
“That is not a medical category.”
The final report:
Mild age-related memory change.
Medication sensitivity.
No impairment sufficient to prevent financial, legal, or medical decision-making.
Competent.
Arthur read that word repeatedly.
Not perfect.
Competent.
Then Elaine’s attorney attacked the evaluation.
One exam after medication removal did not disprove earlier episodes.
True.
But the staged videos and unauthorized pills damaged her credibility.
Then police found something else.
Elaine had scheduled consultations with two physicians.
Both were told Arthur had worsening confusion.
Neither had seen the full medication list.
Neither knew she had been recording staged incidents.
One physician wrote:
If symptoms continue, formal capacity evaluation may be appropriate.
Elaine forwarded that sentence to Martin.
Her message:
One more doctor and we have it.
Arthur sat quietly after reading.
The plan had structure.
The pills were only one component.
Then Bell showed him a draft closing calendar.
Lake property signing:
Friday.
Capacity certification target:
Wednesday.
May you like
Two days.
That was how close Elaine had come.
