Proposed Bill Would Make Changes To Wills Invalid If Made By Someone Diagnosed With Dementia Or Alzheimer's

A proposed bill in the state legislature would make all power of attorneys, wills, trusts, and any other estate planning invalid if they were made or changed by someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Representative Chris Sneed wrote the bill and says his mother has been diagnosed with dementia.

Court records show he was given temporary guardianship over her last fall. Sneed's family says they believe he filed this bill for his own personal gain.

Misty Feathers says Chris Sneed is her uncle. That makes his mother Feathers’ grandmother. She believes Sneed proposed this bill because he wants more money from his mother’s trust.

Opal Hamby has been living with her son, Representative Chris Sneed, for about a year since she was diagnosed with dementia about a year ago.

"The more that she was there, the longer that she’s been there, the more and more controlling he’s become, and the less freedom she’s had," said Feathers.

Hamby's granddaughter Misty Feathers says that prompted Hamby to make changes to her trust.

"She added she wanted to leave things to like her great grandkids, her grandkids, and some things to her other children," Feathers said.

Feathers says her grandmother took thousands out of a shared account with Sneed in November and moved it to another account he doesn't have access to, and that’s when she says Sneed requested temporary guardianship and then introduced the bill.

"I feel like he created the bill to ensure he will get her personal belongings as well as all of her assets, her money, her property, and everything if he actually loses control of her," said Feathers.

However, Representative Sneed says he put this legislation forward to protect Oklahomans.

"One will bring attention to people that have this or people who have thought about, hey, what do I need to do to put things in place so if I do have something happen to me that my wishes can be granted and carry on how they deem them to be," Chris Sneed, R- Muscogee, said.

As far as claims by some family members that he has ulterior motives, Sneed said that he just wants to protect Oklahomans.

"We will stick to the bill here," he said. "And I mean, I do have a personal experience; yes, my mother has been diagnosed with dementia. But, like I said, all want to do is help protect any Oklahoman who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s."

But Feathers says this legislation would go against her grandmother's wishes, and she believes it would go against the wishes of others, who may have been diagnosed but are still capable of making decisions.

"We love her, and regardless of whatever happens, we just want her to be happy," said Feathers.

The bill passed out of committee but does not have an author in the Senate.