My mother, 91, has dementia. Every bank says I need her signature to unlock her $100,000 stock certificate. What can I do?

A person with dementia may have assets that require legal intervention to transfer or access. When a bank or financial institution requires a signature from someone unable to provide informed consent, options typically include obtaining power of attorney (if executed before cognitive decline), petitioning for guardianship or conservatorship through a court, or consulting an elder law attorney about alternatives specific to the jurisdiction and asset type. The quoted statement indicates the stock certificate has no named beneficiary on file.

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