Financial Elder Abuse Lawyer & Attorney In Southern California

Unfortunately, elderly people are often particularly dependant on other people for their care, which puts them in a vulnerable position. They can be taken advantage of by people they trust, such as family members, by other caregivers, or by staff at nursing homes.

There are a variety of forms of financial elder abuse. Some are perpetrated by people who do not know the victim, such as telemarketing fraud or identity theft. However, some forms of abuse are carried out by family members or caregivers. In some cases, the abuse is as complex as a child convincing a parent to put property in his or her name so that, when the parent dies, the child owns the property outright (to the detriment of other siblings), or convincing an elderly person to buy something they cannot use, such as convincing an elderly person to buy a lifetime membership in a gym. In other cases, it is as simple as stealing money from the senior's wallet when he or she is not looking.

For elderly people who have fallen victim to financial elder abuse, a lawsuit can provide a variety of remedies. First, the victim can recover money the taken or can recover property itself, such as when a valuable item is taken. Second, victims can recover attorney's fees because the statute protecting elderly citizens provides for attorney's fees in a lawsuit. Third, although rare, victims may be able to recover punitive damages.

It is uncommon for an elderly victim to expose the abuse or approach a lawyer for help. Usually, that falls to family members who become suspicious that their loved one has been cheated or a friend who notices unusual behavior.

If you live in southern California and you believe someone you love has been a victim of financial elder abuse, contact a lawyer to discuss your legal options. A lawyer can advise you of what steps to take to remedy the situation.