5 Examples of Riverside Probate Fraud That Could Happen to You
When probate fraud happens early in the estate administration process, it can go unnoticed unless beneficiaries are paying attention. Often, individuals are distracted by other matters surrounding the loss of their loved one. Many do not realize that the fraudulent activity has taken place, or they realize when it’s too late. Hiring an experienced Riverside probate lawyer to help protect your rights and interests can go a long way. They can do this by reducing the chance of fraud depreciating your rightful inheritance.
What are some real-life examples of fraud that happens in the early stages of a probate administration in California?
Five common examples of probate fraud:
- An executor is instructed to leave a decedent’s estate to a charity. Instead of turning over all of the property, the executor replaces valuable antique furniture with far less expensive furniture. This is done hoping that no one will notice the difference.
- A child disinherited from his parent’s will obtains a copy of an old will. In the old will he is a beneficiary. He uses the old will to attempt to probate the estate and receives property that is not rightfully his.
- Someone drafts a fake will or codicil to a will that gives a substantial inheritance that he or she would otherwise not have received. This person enters the fake will or codicil into probate for administration.
- A deceased relative does not leave a will. Some of the rightful heirs don’t include all the rightful heirs on the probate petition in hopes no one notices. As a result, only a portion of the class of people entitled to receive the property actually receive anything.
- A child enters the home of a deceased parent without telling anyone. They remove valuable items of personal property, such as jewelry, before the probate process begins. This results in the items not being included in probate.
To learn more about hiring the right attorney read, Five Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Trust and Probate Litigation Attorney. Contact an experienced Riverside probate litigation attorney today at (888) 443-6590 for a free consultation.