A seller was able to go to the closing and sign the paperwork to sell a parent's property while the parent was still in the hospital. How could this be possible

Being named an executor of a will grants authority to manage the estate after the individual's death, but it does not confer rights to act on behalf of a living person. Since the parent was still alive and in the hospital, this option would not apply to the situation described.

While joint tenancy allows co-owners to manage the property together, it does not automatically authorize one owner to act independently in legal matters such as selling the property without the consent of the other owner. Since the parent was incapacitated, this option would not legally allow the seller to sign on their behalf.

Medical recommendations, while beneficial for health considerations, do not provide legal authority for someone to sign documents on behalf of another person. Legal authority would still need to be established through mechanisms like a power of attorney.