Was Your Loved One the Victim of Fraud?

When clients seek the assistance of a California probate lawyer to ensure that their property will pass as they wish following their death, they trust that their most valuable assets will be taken care of by others. Sadly, sometimes these clients become the victim of fraud, whether by a legal professional, friend, family member, or another person of influence. And, unfortunately, elderly clients are particularly at risk in these situations.

How does an elderly person become the victim of fraud on their will?

The act of fraud essentially means telling a lie. When a person creates a will if they are lied to and that lie results in a change or addition to the will that otherwise would not have been made, this may constitute fraud. The individual responsible for the fraudulent activity may:

• Pressure the victim to make changes or additions to his or her will
• Lie about what is contained in the will
• Lie about how the probate process works
• Take advantage of the person’s confusion
• Take advantage of the emotional state of the elderly individual, who may be facing medical issues, a recent loss of a loved one, or anxiety over the aging process

The resulting changes or additions to the will subsequently benefit the individual. Other friends or family members may not learn about these changes or additions until after their loved one has passed away. Fortunately, it is not too late to take action if the creator of the will is deceased.

If you are ready to start your case, then please give us a call or fill out our Get Help Now form.  If you want a comprehensive overview of California Probate, then click here. Should you have additional questions about trust litigation, then you will find plenty of useful information in our Learning Center.