If you have an elderly parent or other loved one that is a senior citizen, it is important to understand that they are particularly vulnerable to financial abuse. This is especially true if they have a mental or physical challenge.
There are certain signs that you should be aware of that may indicate your loved one is being taken advantage of. If you see a pattern starting to occur, you should take immediate action and intervene. Below are a few “clues” that financial abuse may be occurring:
- You start noticing personal items or assets are missing
- Your loved one has new “friends” that are influencing him or her
- Your loved one starts receiving past due notices on his or her bills
- There are unexplained withdrawals or transfers from the senior’s bank accounts
- The elder’s banks statements are not being delivered to his or her home anymore
- There are suspicious signatures on the senior’s checks
- Your loved one is not aware of his or her financial situation and cannot explain certain financial arrangements that have been made
- The senior has signed new legal documents, but cannot explain why it was done or what the documents mean
The above list is not exhaustive. If you believe your elderly loved one has been the victim of financial abuse, we can help. As specialists, our elder law attorneys can help you figure out what has happened and how to correct it. Along with untangling the financial mess, we can assist your loved one with creating an estate plan that truly carries out his or her wishes.
The Astill Law Office has provided high quality legal services for over 30 years. We specialize in wills, trusts, estate planning, and asset protection. If you have any questions about creating a Trust, Will, or estate planning in general, contact The Astill Law Office at 801-438-8698.