Financial Exploitation of the Elderly & Guardianships
According to a May 23, 2016 Forbes article, guardianships may not always be safe. What if the person who is appointed to be the guardian of your incapacitated mother is taking advantage of her, physically or financially? How do you know that the court appointed guardian of your father is going to work in the best interest of him? Guardianships are becoming more and more popular as people are living longer lives. Filing to be the guardian of your vulnerable mother with Alzheimer’s is definitely a way to insure that she is protected. The probate courts in Florida try to do what is best for the ward when appointing a guardian. However, sometimes, people become guardians for the wrong reasons. Furthermore, unfortunately, there have been cases of court appointed guardians financially exploiting and stealing from the ward.
- The May 23, 2016 Forbes article discusses a 2010 report, where “the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found hundreds of allegations of physical abuse, neglect and financial exploitation by guardians in 45 states and the District of Columbia between 1990 and 2010. Guardians also stole $5.4 million in assets from their wards in that period, the GAO said.”
- An article from the Daily Business Review discusses a Guardianship Fraud Program that the Palm Beach Clerk’s Office implemented to investigate allegations of exploitation and fraud occurring in the local probate court’s guardianship program.
- Since the program was implemented in 2009, Palm Beach County’s Clerk & Comptroller office has uncovered more than $5.1 million!
- How can I insure that my elderly friend or relative is safe in the guardianship system in Florida?
- How can a West Palm Beach probate lawyer assist me?
- What do I do if I believe a ward is being financially exploited by their court appointed guardian?
- To read the entire Forbes article about financial exploitation and guardianships, click here.