Evidence of financial abuse includes a sudden change in bank account balances, modifications to wills or trust documents leaving large bequests to care givers, transfers of assets such as bank accounts or real property to care givers or others, or the purchase of inappropriate investments. Another tipoff is a sudden change to Powers of Attorney for financial management.

The laws protecting elders and dependent adults allow the court to order an individual who has been found to have committed abuse to reimburse you for the attorneys fees and costs required to bring such a case to court. As attorneys experienced with financial elder abuse claims, we can analyze your case and discuss legal and practical options to address the abuse.

If you suspect that an elder or dependent adult is the victim of financial abuse you should immediately contact the local police, Adult Protective Services, or the District Attorney’s office.

You can also seek the advice of an attorney experienced in this area of the law. You should gather copies of bank statements, credit card receipts, home improvement invoices, deeds or any other evidence that shows questionable financial activities. There are court procedures that you can utilize to freeze financial accounts to protect them while the matter is investigated.
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The laws protecting elders and dependent adults allow the court to order an individual who has been found to have committed abuse to reimburse you for the attorneys fees and costs required to bring such a case to court. As attorneys experienced with financial elder abuse claims, we can analyze your case and discuss legal and practical options to address the abuse.

When you suspect someone is taking advantage of an elder or dependent adult, you will need to remember that they don't want to appear weak or helpless. Elders have been making decisions and have been in charge of their own lives since they became adults. If you are their child they have been responsible for protecting you too. That's a lot of authority to give up, even when it's appropriate to accept help from someone else, particularly an adult child.  It's difficult for some people to recognize that they may need help from someone to maintain their lifelong independence and autonomy. So, when speaking to an elder or dependent adult, stay focused on the unfairness of what the abuser is doing, and reiterate that the current problems are not the victim's fault. You should not be perceived as taking over, instead you should be seen as someone to help the victim get justice.