What we verified in “If a family member is deported: money, papers and the house”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. According to the CFPB, there are several options for a friend or relative to help with your bills and banking: a convenience account, in which that person can make deposits, withdrawals and checks while the money stays yours, with the risk that they withdraw money for their own use (and it helps to ask for a convenience account and say you do not want a joint account); a trusted contact, who has no access to your money but whom the institution may call if it sees signs of financial exploitation; and a power of attorney, with which your agent handles your banking while the account stays in your name, and if you share the document with the bank, the bank should honor it; the CFPB warns that the agent could withdraw money without your permission.

   Sources 1 · I would like to be able to have my friend or family member help with my bill paying and banking. What are my options?: 'exposes you to the risk that they might withdraw your money for their own use'; 'Trusted contacts don't have access to your money'; 'if the financial institution sees signs of financial exploitation'; 'they should honor the document and allow your agent to handle your bank transactions'; 'could withdraw money from your account without your permission' · Checked October 31, 2026

2. According to the CFPB, if you do not want your money to become your helper's when you die, avoid a joint account in which that person has the right of survivorship.

   Sources 1 · I would like to be able to have my friend or family member help with my bill paying and banking: 'a joint account where the other person has the "right of survivorship"' · Checked October 31, 2026

3. According to the CFPB, a power of attorney is a legal document that allows someone else, called an agent, to act on your behalf; it is usually durable, meaning it stays in effect even if you become incapacitated; it can also be temporary, for example so someone can pay your bills while you are away; it gives someone else a great deal of authority over your finances without regular oversight; you can change or revoke it; a lawyer can help protect you against abuse and, if you cannot afford one, you may be able to use free legal aid programs; and many states have laws to protect against POA abuse.

   Sources 2 · What is a power of attorney (POA)?: 'a legal document that allows someone else to act on your behalf'; 'it continues to be effective even if you become incapacitated'; 'a servicemember being deployed overseas can create a POA so someone can pay bills'; 'It gives someone else a great deal of authority over your finances without regular oversight'; 'POA designations are not written in stone – you can change them'; 'working with a lawyer could help protect you against potential abuses'; 'you may be able to take advantage of free legal aid programs'; 'Many states have laws in place to help protect against POA abuse' · Checked October 31, 2026

4. According to the CFPB's guide for agents under a power of attorney (Florida edition), a person who manages someone else's money is a fiduciary with four basic duties: act only in that person's best interest, manage their money and property carefully, keep their money and property separate from your own and keep good records; that person can take away your authority at any time while they can still make decisions; and your authority ends when they die.

   Sources 3 · Help for agents under a durable power of attorney in Florida: 'you have four basic duties that you must keep in mind'; 'Act only in Martina’s best interest'; 'Manage Martina’s money and property carefully'; 'Keep Martina’s money and property separate from yours'; 'Keep good records'; 'Martina can take away (or revoke) your authority to act as her agent at any time'; 'your authority to act as Martina’s agent ends when she dies' · Checked October 31, 2026

5. Under ICE Directive 11064.4 (Detention and Removal of Alien Parents and Legal Guardians of Minor Children), when a detained parent or guardian is subject to a final order of removal and ICE is carrying it out, ICE officers should, to the extent practicable, give them a reasonable opportunity to consult with their legal representative and a means to communicate with consulates, notaries, courts or family members before removal, in order to execute necessary documents such as powers of attorney, passport applications or appointments of guardians, buy airline tickets and prepare.

   Sources 4 · ICE Directive 11064.4 (July 2, 2025), section 5.6(1)–(2): 'When a detained Covered Individual is subject to a final order of removal and ICE is effectuating their removal'; 'afford detained Covered Individuals a reasonable opportunity to consult with their legal representative'; 'a means by which to communicate with consulates and consular officials, notaries, courts, guardians ad litem, or family members'; 'in order to execute necessary documents (e.g., powers of attorney, passport applications, appointments of guardians, or other permissions)' · Checked October 31, 2026

6. According to ICE, its policy is that enforcement actions do not unnecessarily infringe on parents' and guardians' rights and obligations; the online detainee locator may show where the parent is detained; to reach the detained parent or their deportation officer, you contact the ERO field office where they are held; parental interests inquiries go through the ERO contact form, choosing 'Parental Interests'; and ICE's Detention Reporting and Information Line is 1-888-351-4024, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

   Sources 5 · Parental Interests: 'do not unnecessarily infringe upon the legal parental or guardianship rights and obligations'; 'Online Detainee Locator System may provide the location where the parent is detained'; 'secure ERO Contact Form'; 'Parental Interests'; '1-888-351-4024' · Checked October 31, 2026

7. According to the IRS, when a foreign person disposes of a U.S. real property interest, the sale is subject to FIRPTA withholding; withholding is generally 15% of the amount realized; in most cases the buyer is the withholding agent, and if the buyer fails to withhold it may be liable for the tax; and there is an exception when the amount realized is $300,000 or less and the buyer plans to live in the home.

   Sources 6 · FIRPTA withholding: 'is subject to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (FIRPTA) income tax withholding'; withholding generally 15% of the amount realized; 'In most cases, the buyer (transferee) is the withholding agent'; 'the exception from withholding when the amount realized is $300,000 or less' · Checked October 31, 2026

8. According to the CFPB, when you send money to another country you generally see, before you pay, the total cost of the transfer including taxes and fees and the exchange rate; you get a receipt that says when the money will be available and what to do in case of an error; you can generally cancel within 30 minutes after sending, unless it was already picked up or deposited; you can report a problem up to 180 days from the date the funds are available; and if the company does not fix it, you can complain to the CFPB.

   Sources 7 · Sending money: 'The total cost for the transfer, including taxes and fees'; 'The exchange rate, if applicable'; 'When the money will be available'; 'Generally, you can cancel an international money transfer within 30 minutes after it is sent'; 'up to 180 days from the date the funds are available'; 'How to submit a question or complaint about the company' · Checked October 31, 2026

9. According to EOIR, only certain people can represent someone in immigration matters, including licensed attorneys and accredited representatives; and notarios, document preparers, immigration consultants and travel agents are not allowed to practice law or give legal advice.

   Sources 8 · Can Someone Represent You at EOIR?: 'Those include validly licensed attorneys and accredited representatives'; 'Notarios, document preparers, immigration consultants, and travel agents are not allowed to practice law'; 'cannot give you legal advice' · Checked October 31, 2026

10. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has a finder: you enter an address or a city and it shows an LSC-funded legal aid organization near you.

    Sources 9 · I Need Legal Help: 'enter an address or city below to find an LSC-funded legal aid organization near you' · Checked October 31, 2026