An officer or employee of a financial institution who suspects financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult is a mandated reporter under the law. A mandated reporter is a person, who as a result of his or her profession, in this case banking, is more likely to be aware of elder abuse or neglect....Read More

Caregivers cannot accept gifts from elders without being at risk for committing financial elder abuse.  If an older adult chooses to gift an estate or substantial sum of money to their caregiver, California Probate Code requires that the drafter (usually the lawyer) obtain a Certificate of Independent Review from an independent attorney. This means the lawyer...Read More

Elder financial predators are more prevalent than ever. Illness and cognitive impairments make seniors more susceptible to abuse than other members of the population. Seniors are also more likely to have accumulated significant savings and assets over their lifetimes. Whether it is a fraudulent scheme to collect funds, or a caregiver or relative in need...Read More

Elder abuse, both physical and financial, is indeed a major issue that is often under reported in this country. It has been estimated by the California Attorney General that upwards of 200,000 elderly Californians are abused each year. Particularly vulnerable are those with some form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s. Due to media coverage and money,...Read More

While there are no official reports that Hugh Hefner has dementia, he provides a great example of an elderly parent remarrying later in life. For those of you out of the popular news loop – Hugh Hefner married 29 year old Crystal Harris in late 2012. While Hefner reportedly had Crystal sign an “iron clad prenup,”...Read More

On October 5th, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB-128, the bill that legalized assisted suicide in California. Called The “End of Life Option Act,” Brown stated that he signed the bill because if he found himself dying “in prolonged and excruciating pain” he would find comfort in having the option to end his life. He was...Read More

Huguette Clark is a woman who definitely could have used a good Estate Planner. Heiress to Copper Magnate Senator William Clark of Montana, Huguette was heir to hundreds of millions of dollars, several sprawling homes, and numerous valuable artworks.  After living the last two decades of her life at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in...Read More

Harper Lee, the renowned author of “To Kill a Mockingbird” has a new book coming out this summer, at the spry age of 88. Her new book, titled, “Go Set a Watchman,” takes place in the 1950’s and is centered around the character Scout as an adult, from To Kill a Mockingbird. But the circumstances...Read More

American Top 40 host and Scooby Doo voice, Casey Kasem suffered from Parkinson’s disease in his later years. This January, he passed away under tragic and somewhat dubious circumstances, which may have been prevented had a conservatorship been established. In 2013, his children filed for a temporary conservatorship when they reportedly had been prevented from...Read More

What happens when a billionaire decides to leave everything to a new, young wife? A healthy dose of Chaos – and legal fees- are likely not far behind. New Orleans Saints owner and 87 year old billionaire Tom Benson changed his mind last year and decided to leave his empire to new wife Gayle and cut...Read More