What happens to mail that should have been forwarded but didn’t? Mail theft?
 

My stepdad is in a private nursing home and his house, the one I grew up in, is vacant but very well maintained. My mom passed almost 5 years ago so all of their mail has been forwarded to my address for a few months now. Prior to that, I’ve been physically getting the mail from their mailbox. It’s tax time and none of their tax docs have arrived. It’s possible they were stamped, DO NOT FORWARD, but I’m just guessing.

My brother who lives 70 miles away has the Power of Attorney. Do you know if the Post Office will talk to me about the mail or will my brother have to be the one to inquire? What happens to mail that cannot or was not forwarded? I’m afraid their mail may have been stolen.

Forwarding expires automatically usually after 6 months or so. It usually does not apply to bulk mailed things, only first class.

I just filed a permanent change of address for my dad when he died. I still get stuff addressed to him. Sometimes marked urgent do not destroy. The estate is closed, done, over and out. I enjoy dropping those pieces in the trash as they are all scams and not really from the government.

Calling the post office is just impossible. Like trying to call Google Earth, just never going to happen. You or brother with the power of attorney will have to go to the post office in person and file a change of address, and have him bring all POA documents.

You need to sign him, and yourself while you are at it, up for Informed Delivery.

You will get an email every day with pics of all the mail due to be delivered.

Free USPS service BTW.

https://www.usps.com/manage/informed-delivery.htm

We have informed delivery for him and got pics of what’s supposed to arrived but never did.

Well that sucks.

I know. I may be dealing with identity theft soon.

Forwarding mail is good for 12 months,
after you pay the $1.10 fee.

From USPS
But it isn't 100% foolproof.
For instance, a letter was supposedly sent out several months ago
notifying that a savings and loan account was about to be
"deactivated" due to inactivity.

The letter should have been forwarded to me, but wasn't.
The money in the account is now long gone.
Yes, it is possible to get it back with countless
notarized documents, forms, and hassle.
but the amount of money in the account was not
enough to justify all that crap.
Legalized theft.

It might travel the US until it hits undeliverable. Then return to sender. Really depends upon the competency of the local post office.

I'm getting emails from the VA saying the chp 33 stuff is undeliverable.... Local post office are just low brows.