Guardian Steals Over $80,000 From Ward

Florida probate and guardianship lawyers know that financial exploitation of the elderly is, unfortunately, happening throughout West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, and throughout the rest of the Florida. There are both civil and criminal remedies for Financial Exploitation in Florida. Financial Exploitation in Palm Beach 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 to the victim, or even be a family member. What is a fiduciary duty? Does a guardian have a fiduciary duty to the ward? You may want to read about a Nevada guardian who stole from the ward.

News4 reported, on January 9,2017, that a 27 year old, Yohannes Habtemicael , was arrested for exploitation of the elderly and embezzlement of an older person. Habtemicael was the permanent guardian of his father who was deemed incompetent by a probate court. He had access to his father’s funds for the sole purpose of providing for his father’s care. However, he allegedly converted over $80,000 to himself to use personally. Although this is a Nevada matter, Florida guardianship attorneys and probate litigators see this fact pattern frequently. To read the entire article, click here.