What happens if caregivers or family members wrote checks or used credit cards without permission while my parent was vulnerable? – North Carolina

Short Answer

In North Carolina, unauthorized check-writing or credit card use against a vulnerable parent can trigger both civil and criminal consequences. Civilly, the person who took the money may be required to return it, and a court can order an accounting, restrict access to funds, and remove a trustee or other fiduciary if trust or estate assets were involved. Criminally, the conduct may qualify as exploitation of an older adult or disabled adult, depending on the facts and the relationship.

Understanding the Problem

In North Carolina probate and trust disputes, the key question is what happens when a caregiver or family member uses a parent’s checks, debit/credit cards, or accounts without permission at a time when the parent is cognitively impaired or otherwise vulnerable. The issue often overlaps with concerns about undue influence, lack of capacity, and whether a trustee or other person in a position of trust used that role to move money, change beneficiaries, or block family access. The practical focus is usually on confirming where the money went, stopping further spending, and using the right court process to unwind improper transactions.

Apply the Law

North Carolina law provides multiple paths depending on where the money came from (personal account vs. trust account), who controlled it (caregiver, trustee, agent under a power of attorney), and what authority existed (true permission vs. coerced or impaired “consent”). In trust and estate litigation, common remedies include compelling records, ordering repayment (sometimes called a surcharge against a fiduciary), removing a trustee, and seeking court orders that prevent further transfers while a case is pending. Separately, North Carolina also criminalizes certain financial exploitation of older or disabled adults, and criminal courts can freeze a defendant’s assets in some cases to protect restitution.

Key Requirements

Unauthorized use (or invalid “permission”): The spending must be without real authority—such as forged checks, coerced signatures, misuse of a card, or “permission” obtained when the parent lacked capacity or was under undue influence.
Connection to a duty of trust (when applicable): If the person had a fiduciary role (trustee, agent under a power of attorney, or similar), the court focuses on whether they used that position for personal benefit or failed to keep proper records and follow the governing document.
Traceable loss and proof: A successful claim usually requires bank/credit card records, canceled checks, merchant statements, and a clear timeline showing what was taken, when, and how it harmed the parent, trust, or estate.

What the Statutes Say

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-112.2 (Exploitation of an older adult or disabled adult) – Makes it a crime to obtain or use an older or disabled adult’s funds by deception or intimidation (including by someone in a position of trust and confidence), with felony levels tied to the value involved.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-32.3 (Domestic abuse, neglect, and exploitation of disabled or elder adults) – Addresses abuse/neglect by a caretaker in a domestic setting and includes definitions that can matter when a caregiver relationship exists.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 108A-113 (Definitions for financial exploitation records investigations) – Defines “financial exploitation” and related terms used in investigations involving financial records for older or disabled adults.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Here, the concern is that a parent with cognitive decline may have been isolated and financially exploited, and that trust/estate assets may have been used improperly while the parent was vulnerable. If checks were written or credit cards were used without valid permission, the focus becomes (1) proving the transactions were unauthorized or the result of undue influence/lack of capacity, (2) identifying whether the spender had a fiduciary role (such as trustee), and (3) tracing the money so the court can order repayment and restrict future access. If a trustee was involved, the same records that show unauthorized spending can also support a claim that the trustee breached duties and should be removed.

Process & Timing

Who files: Typically an interested person (such as a beneficiary) or a current fiduciary seeking court direction. Where: Usually North Carolina Superior Court (often through the Clerk of Superior Court for many estate/trust administration matters; some trust disputes proceed before a Superior Court judge depending on the relief requested). What: A petition/complaint seeking an accounting, return of funds, removal of a trustee, and temporary restrictions on transfers when appropriate. When: As soon as suspicious transactions are identified, because delays can make tracing funds and stopping transfers harder.
Immediate stabilization: The case often starts with gathering bank and credit card statements, identifying all accounts, and requesting court orders that require records production and restrict further spending while the dispute is pending. If criminal exploitation is suspected, a report to law enforcement may run in parallel with the civil case.
Merits phase and remedies: After records are obtained and the timeline is clear, the court can order repayment, impose fiduciary remedies (including removal of a trustee), and enter orders designed to protect remaining assets and clarify who controls them going forward.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

“Permission” defenses: The accused person often claims the parent authorized gifts or reimbursements. The dispute then turns on documentation, consistency with past spending patterns, and whether the parent had capacity and acted freely.
Mixing personal and trust funds: When transactions involve both a parent’s personal accounts and trust accounts, it is easy to pursue the wrong claim in the wrong forum. A careful map of ownership (parent vs. trust) usually drives the strategy.
Record gaps and cash withdrawals: ATM withdrawals, cash-back transactions, and missing receipts are common problems. Early action to obtain statements and merchant records can reduce the risk of “it’s gone and can’t be traced.”
Isolation and access interference: Family conflict and restricted access can delay fact-gathering. Courts tend to rely on objective records, so building the paper trail matters even when personal access is limited.

Conclusion

In North Carolina, if a caregiver or family member wrote checks or used credit cards without permission while a parent was vulnerable, the conduct can support civil claims to recover funds and court orders to protect assets, and it may also qualify as criminal exploitation depending on the facts. The core issues are whether the transactions were truly authorized, whether the parent had capacity and acted freely, and whether a fiduciary (such as a trustee) breached duties. A practical next step is to file a court action seeking an accounting and immediate restrictions on transfers as soon as suspicious activity is identified.

Talk to a Probate Attorney

If a vulnerable parent’s money may have been taken through unauthorized checks, card use, or misuse of trust assets, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help explain options for accountings, recovery, and court orders to protect assets. Call us today at [919-341-7055]. For related reading, see remove a trustee and freeze trust assets and improper transfers before death.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.