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Hello, I'm Mike Hackard. I lead Hackard Law, a law firm that focuses on significant estate, trust and elder financial abuse litigation in California. I'm the author of the new book Alzheimer's, Widowed Stepmothers & Estate Crimes, now available on Amazon.
What are some ways you can spot and prevent elder financial abuse to keep an elderly loved one safe? The first step what any good investigator will tell you - ask the right questions. Here are some key questions to start with:
- Have you noticed that the bills are left unpaid? Have utilities been shut off due to non-payment?
- Do checks or estate documents show unfamiliar or odd signatures that don't match the elder's? We've seen our fair share of forged signatures on wills and trusts.
- Has the elder's will or trust been changed without their full understanding or permission? Wrongdoers take advantage of conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's to hijack assets.
- Did someone sell the elder's home without their approval? Cases of unlawful house transfers are more common than you might think.
- Has the elder been influenced or coerced into signing other legal documents like power of attorney or a joint deed to a house, without comprehending what they mean?
- Have valuables inexplicably disappeared from the elder's house? Do bank accounts show irregularities like frequent withdrawals or unfamiliar charges?
When you find the answers to these questions, you'll be that much closer to stopping any wrongdoing that might be afoot. If you encounter evidence of theft or fraud, first call local law enforcement. Once you've ensured your elderly loved one is safe, then you can think about possible recovery through civil litigation and holding the wrongdoer accountable.
If you would like a free digital copy of Alzheimer's, Widowed Stepmothers & Estate Crimes, email us at hackard@hackardlaw.com. I'm happy to share this book on a very important topic.
