Financial Exploitation of the Elderly: Trust Company Account Executive Steals More than $325,000 From Elderly Bank Customers

Probate and guardianship lawyers know that financial exploitation of the elderly is, unfortunately, happening throughout South Florida. There are both civil and criminal remedies for Financial Exploitation in Florida. Financial Exploitation is taken very seriously. It is important to be aware of financial exploitation so that it doesn’t happen to you, or a loved one who may be suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Many times, the elderly are exploited by someone who is close to them and that they trust. That person may have a fiduciary duty with the victim or even be a family member.  What is a fiduciary duty? Does a probate lawyer have a fiduciary duty to his client? You may want to read about a Las Vegas lawyer who may have financially exploited his clients.

Fiduciary Duties and Probate Litigation

Probate lawyers and financial advisors, for example, have a duty to advise their clients fairly and in the best interest of the client. What is a fiduciary duty? Probate attorneys and estate planning attorneys know that these duties are among the most serious, most important and highest duties found in the law. On August 1,2017, ABC 7 reported about the arrest of an account executive at Trust Company of Illinois in Downers Grove. This account executive has been charged with stealing more than $325,000 from three elderly bank customers. The charges against her include four counts of theft, three counts of financial exploitation of the elderly, three counts of financial institution fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft. The article quotes the DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin who said the following: “The elderly can at times be seen as an easy target when it comes to financial crimes.” Although this particular case is in Illinois, probate litigators in West Palm Beach frequently encounter very similar situations. To read the entire article, click here.