Did you hear about the South Dakota Mother who (allegedly) misused over 57 thousand dollars of her daughter’s inheritance? Do you know anyone in Florida that may be abusing a minor’s inheritance? Do you know whom to contact when such guardian abuse is taking place? You may want to hear about what happened here to make sure it never happens to someone you love.
South Dakota Woman Charged
- A Mitchell South Dakota woman was arrested for misusing more than $57k in social security benefits that were intended for her juvenile daughter following the death of the child’s father.
- The 54-year-old mother was arrested on April 29, 2015 by Special Agents of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General as well as several officers’ from the local county sheriff.
- The woman is facing two federal counts regarding theft of government funds and making a false statement, both coming after she was indicted by a grand jury in February.
- How did she get caught?
- She was regularly asked for an accounting of how much money was received, spent and saved on her child and failure to answer prompted an investigation.
- While usually a parent is given the benefit of the doubt in these types of cases the facts were so clearly against the woman, criminal action was the only answer.
- Unfortunately unless someone notifies social security these types of cases often go unreported.
South Florida Inheritance Abuse
- This is not a case of something that is isolated in the Dakotas abuse of guardianship powers is all too common in South Florida especially West Palm Beach.
- I have blogged several times on the different steps the legislature is making to repair the guardian system but have you ever stopped to ask what you can do to help?
- Palm Beach probate litigators know that a concerned neighbor could be the key to stopping inheritance abuse.
- If you see something, say something for the sake of the child or elderly ward that is being abused, they need those funds.
- This is especially true when we talk about social security.
Want to learn more? Check out a story from the local newspaper about the incident, just click here.