The hardest part of my suggestion will be to deal with this as a Business/Financial problem and not a Personal problem. Keep in mind that a person can do whatever they please with their personal assets/property as long as they are alive. The legal status and ownership of assets/property changes once the owner passes. You need to find the father-in-law's original will. Get father-in-law to revoke all written codicils except for his original will while his is able. This can be on any type of paper in his handwriting and his current signature. Have this filed and notarized at the courthouse of his residence. Get father-in-law to change beneficiary on life insurance policies. This can be written instructions in his handwriting and original signature. Have the life insurance beneficiary as his ESTATE. This keeps all the extremely distant relatives and Rev. Leroy from filing claims against you or the executor. Explain to them that the dispersal of these assets will be determined by the probate court according to the original will. When the time comes, probate the will. This is the only LEGAL way to settle a person's estate. Find original title to vehicle. Have your father-in-law sign the original title and title transfer documents to you. "Relocate" vehicle to another location. Rev. Leroy will eventually need to prove in probate court a valid claim against father-in-laws estate to "legally" get title and possession of the vehicle. Get a Bill of Sale from your father-in-law for any of his personal property that Rev. Leroy,his wife, and the "church" may have expressed an interest. Go to an attorney and prepare a durable power of attorney. Do not start "moving" money around unless you have the right or authority to do so. Have father-in-law sign and date a check and leave amount blank. The check can be deposited or cashed as necessary. Go to an attorney and start process for guardianship. Go to attorney and prepare Notice to Physicians and Doctors for your father-in-law. Go to District Attorney and discuss course of action on Rev. Leroy. Advise Rev. Leroy that you have spoken to District Attorney. Go to hospital management and demand restrictions on Rev. Leroy access to father-in-law. Advise Rev. Leroy that you have spoken to hospital management. I truly hope that all works out for you and your family. From my personal experience things get worse before they get better. My dad passed away last March at age 87. The hardest decision I have ever made in my life was to let him pass. If my suggestions above seem harsh and callous, it it from dealing with the greed of liars, thieves, convicted felons, and ex-convicts on parole that are member of the family my father re-married into. Lord Help Us All.
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