Chapter 7 - The bank folder
The financial records were not evidence simply because I photographed them.
The trust company and probate court had to establish what the account allowed.
Rebecca Hale became my lawyer in the guardianship matter.
Forty-six.
Dark suits.
Short answers.
First meeting:
“Do not call it theft yet.”
“It’s Lizzy’s money.”
“Yes.”
“They bought handbags.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“We need account ownership, trust language, reimbursement rules, receipt support, and who authorized what.”
I hated that.
Rebecca continued:
“Guardians are allowed to use child-support funds for reasonable household expenses. A restaurant charge is not automatically theft if the child ate there. Electronics are not automatically theft if the item was for the child. Luxury stores could sell children’s clothing.”
“Bellissima Leather does not sell kindergarten shoes.”
“Probably useful.”
She asked for the photographs.
We sent them through proper channels.
First County Trust voluntarily initiated a review once informed of the safety case.
It also temporarily paused extraordinary distributions.
Not ordinary food/medical support.
A professional interim payee handled necessary expenses while Lizzy lived with me.
Again:
No magic freeze button.
Procedure.
The copied withdrawal slip bothered me most.
$6,500 cash.
Two signatures.
Gloria’s was obvious.
The second was not.
The bank stamp covered the surname.
Initial looked like W.
I thought:
Walt.
Then told myself:
Too easy.
Maybe a bank officer.
Trustee.
May you like
Witness.
Not knowing was worse.
