Organized Crime has a Procedures Manual for destroying families and stealing their estates. It’s NOT pretty. Knowing how these crimes work will help you to protect yourself and your loved ones. Many people report very similar experiences.
STEP ONE: Assess Opportunities & Establish Yourself
Identify Elderly Affluent People Who Are Alone – Target people who live alone and whose children or heirs live and work out of state.
Elderly Childless People Are Best – Children and grandchildren are hard but not impossible to displace. Childless people may not have obvious heirs making it much easier for you to establish your position.
Assess Their Estate Decisions – How large is their estate? Do they have a will? How strongly do they feel about the disposition of their assets? The greater their uncertainty, the better it is for you.
Avoid Worthwhile Causes – People who want to leave their estates to worthwhile causes must see you as being more deserving than their cause. Charities are skilled at maintaining close ties with their donors.
Aversion to Extended Care – The best targets have a horror of nursing homes and extended care facilities and have a strong desire to continue living in their home until they die. Convince them their heirs will put them away and that you will help them stay independent until the end.
Length of Life Span – Unless your target is terminally ill or very elderly, expect this to be a long term project. Once you are sole beneficiary you will still need to defend your position until they expire. You obviously want the money as soon as possible. Ways to hasten their death are not posted on this site.
Become a Close Neighbor – This is by far the best and easiest way to ensure access and influence. It allows you to monitor all their activities and all their other relationships.
Create Reasons to See Them Often, Daily is Best – Find legitimate reasons to see them often to gain their trust, build influence and eventual control of them.
Alcohol Helps - Alcohol lowers people’s resistance, raises their susceptibility to suggestion, makes them relax, feel good and festive. It’s easy to manipulate alcoholics and make them angry and emotional.
People Are Especially Susceptible To Suggestion When Sleepy – During those hazy, lazy moments when they are just drifting off to sleep or waking up. Visit or telephone when the impact of your communication will linger in their minds long after you finish.
Always be Smiling, Positive and Loving – They must see you as special, especially deserving and associate you with only the most positive, wonderful feelings.
Be Sincere and Genuine - Elderly people are much smarter than they seem and know when they are being worked. Develop a sincere interest in their welfare, it makes you more convincing. As they age they will eventually depend and rely on you to support them.
Approve of Everything They Do - Unconditional Love And Approval Are Absolute Requirements! Separate and differentiate yourself from their heirs and people who disapprove or disagree with them or try to tell them what to do.
Always Take Their Side And Fault Anyone Who Disagrees With Them – This is the GOLDEN RULE! You want them to eventually sever or discount all other relationships so they rely, trust and love only you.
Leave Them On A High Note, Feeling Very Good About You – Treat each interaction as a professional. Each performance must further your goal of showing them you are their ONLY deserving heir.
Talk To Them Like Family – Tell them they are the wonderful father / mother or aunt / uncle you always wish you had. Plant family associations and connections in their mind.
Disappear When Their Family or Children Appear – This is VERY important! If the rightful heirs see what you are doing before you have gained full control, they will stop your relationship. Tell your target you want to respect the time they have with their family and children, this will make you seem especially loving and considerate.
Love What They Love – Whatever they cherish, love it too. Be seen as much nicer than anyone else who might dislike or disapprove of what they love or do.
Get Into A Position Of Trust And Authority – Manage their checkbook, their investments, their grocery money. Whatever you do, be VERY Honest. Your purpose is to show how honorable and trustworthy you are. Don’t steal early, wait for the big prize.
Cash Gifts – Make sure they know how much you really love them and not their money. Get gifts in cash which cannot be easily traced.
Act Like The Perfect Son Or Daughter – Be the perfect child they always wish they had. Appear far more deserving than any of their family members.
Create A Fun Secret Conspiracy, Build Secrecy Early – Tell them their daughter/son/rightful heir might get a little upset and jealous, so let’s just keep it our little secret! Let’s have fun and not tell them! They don’t have a right to know about everything you do any how!
Always Operate in Secret – Do NOT leave any proof or evidence of what you are doing or what you have done.
Keep the Rightful Heirs Ignorant of Your Relationship - If they sense you are becoming too close to their loved one before you have gained complete control, they will worry about your relationship and end it.
STEP TWO: Discredit and Displace The Heirs
It’s A Military Campaign – You are investing time and energy to gain control of their estate. If victorious, you will never have to work again. It is a long term project that requires guts, drive, determination, hard work and dirty deeds. Enjoy Doing Evil and Being Ruthless and Cruel.
Your Goal: To Completely Discredit and Disinherit Existing Heirs
Hate The Heirs – You must absolutely hate and despise the heirs you are disinheriting. You need to transfer a vicious, angry hatred to your target so that neither of you feels badly about what you are doing. Show no mercy. Hate is an absolute prerequisite for success.
Truth and Righteousness – Show them the real truth about their heirs, illustrate and explain how their heirs have abused and misused them all their lives.
Collaborate If You Can – Is there an unhappy family member who can help you disinherit the others? Collaborate with them. Make sure you always have more on your collaborator than they have on you.
Turn All Innocent, Well-Intentioned Acts into Damning Condemnations of the Heir’s Misbehavior – Everything they do is wrong. Make sure everyone adopts the same thinking. The heirs have NEVER done anything right.
Restate Reality Into Wrongs – Change innocuous comments into outrageous, inflammatory lies that are loudly and emphatically proclaimed by your collaborators. Lies become verified truth and reality.
SEVER ALL COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE HEIRS – This is VERY IMPORTANT! If your target refuses to communicate with their heirs, the heirs can’t exert influence, change their minds or fight your plans.
Use Anger & Betrayal – Get your target very angry with their heirs and keep them angry so they will cease all communications with the heirs. Make them feel angry, betrayed, devalued, used and abused. Use every tool at your disposal, create conflict every way you can.
Creating Conflict - If reasons to be angry with the heirs don’t exist, create them. The heirs are in the dark, they don’t know what you are doing. Tell damaging lies, falsify letters and “proof” of the heirs horrible dishonesty and misdeeds.
Continue Your Campaign of Conflict with the Heirs – Be relentless. Start small and gradually build over time. Do everything you can to destroy their relationships and any positive memories of their heirs.
Avoid Isolation – Encourage your target to continue their normal activities except those involving the heirs. You want them to appear normal to friends and associates who can validate their feelings. Isolating elderly people can be used to prove undue influence.
Involve An Attorney – The attorney who prepares the will be questioned if the will is challenged. Make sure their attorney supports you and will help you prove that they truly want you to enjoy their entire estate.
Rewrite Reality Repeatedly Over Time – A lie repeated over and over again over time eventually becomes truth. This is one of your most powerful tools. Repeatedly demonstrating what bad people their heirs are will eventually make your target believe it.
Discredit and Disparage – It is very hard to get people to go against long held, deep set beliefs and values. It’s much easier to change their memories and perceptions of reality.
Repeatedly Ridicule and Revile The Heirs – Laugh, make ridicule fun and entertaining. Bond with mutual hatred of the heirs, their greed and all their misdeeds.
Develop a Fun, Secret Conspiracy - Involve your target in fun little dirty tricks that hurt and harm the heirs. Encourage them to enjoy playing tricks to punish their heirs for all their abuse and mistreatment.
Discredit and Destroy the Heirs – Hurt and weaken them any way you can. Can you harm their business? Their career? Spread damaging lies about them? Do it, your financial future is at stake. Destroy them if you can so they can’t fight you.
Involve Organized Crime, Stalking and Hate Groups – Pay criminals to create havoc in the heir’s life, but only do it through intermediaries so it cannot be traced to you. Major life disruptions can be caused by surprisingly minor dirty tricks disguised as life’s bad breaks. Sick, psychotic people enjoy hurting people, getting paid for it is a plus.
STEP THREE: Savor Your Triumph
Enjoy Being Evil – Think about all the fun you will have and all the wonderful things you will do with the target’s money and how much you enjoy hurting the stupid, unsuspecting heirs.
You are so much better, smarter and deserving than they are.
You deserve the money.
The human mind has no firewall. Elderly people are weak and vulnerable. Heirs are helpless, they don’t know what you are doing until it is too late.
See About Steal an Estate on the upper right hand corner of this page.
=> Update: There is obvious tampering with the judicial process in addition to fraud with my parent’s estates. Expanded explanations will be posted shortly.
Post your comments below.
Tags: Add new tag, elder abuse, estate fraud, fraudulent estate, stealing estates, undue influence
June 26, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Do you have any articles on IRA planning. We do Stand Alone IRA Trusts so that we assure our clients of “S T R E T C H-O U T and Asset Protection for the beneficiaries and control the Trust makers wishes thru this vehicle and titling the multible beneficiaries of the client’s IRA’s in this Revocalbe Stand Alone Preservation. We appreciate your article on “How to Steal an Estate”. We are looking for an good article to include in our handouts for the IRA Workshops. Thank you in advance for your response to my comments.
Mary W. Lang
Estate & Business Law Group, P.C.
(847)367-4460
June 27, 2007 at 10:40 am
I am an attorney and found your website interesting. I am going to be giving a seminar to other attorneys and CPAs about estate planning and probate matters. Could I have your permission to make copies of home page on your website for that seminar?
July 9, 2007 at 4:01 pm
http://rileyleagueofjustice.blogspot.com/
PLease click on the above site. Any comment or help would be greatly appreciated. How do you prove undue influence????
July 10, 2007 at 1:27 am
Your website is on the mark. I hired a weekend caregiver for my Aunt several years ago and she used every one of your methods to get control of my Aunt and get herself on as her sole heir within 3 weeks! There was nothing we could do about it either. Adult protective services said that because my Aunt was not in a drooling stupor, the courts would not intervene. Luckily, the evil caregiver had to have some time off and brought in her own relief caregiver who started to suspect that the whole family could not be as bad as she was telling my Aunt we were. The relief caregiver got my Aunt to let her stay there full time and the evil caregivers plan was thwarted. We were called and saved her before she was moved out of state. I have no doubt that she would have accidentally died somehow and nobody would have questioned the “friend” caregiver.
Be very careful who is lurking around your parents and elder relatives. Bad people are out there. Our evil caregiver still is.
July 14, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I am interning for a private investigator who specializes in Elder Abuse issues.
It is amazing how the “m.o.” is the same, no matter where the crime of robbing elders of their freedom and money occurs. In California, “Friends of the Court” — Court-appointed attorneys and conservator/guardians became part of the problem.
They were assigned to assist elders, particularly when there was a “dispute” in a family. In many counties, they simply ignored State law about the procedures to be followed.
Finally, last year, the Los Angeles Times ran a 3-part series after nearly a year of investigation. The Supreme Court publicly stated that it was appalled and appointed a commission (chaired by the presiding Appellate Judge) that actually got results.
The Commission acknowledged that a few counties were exemplary, most were doing the best they could and needed help — and some were what could be described as corrupt!
Some laws requiring increased oversight were enacted immediately. Others laws take affect 2008. This was in spite of “professional” conservators and their attorneys fighting change at every step of the way. (There are some good folks in these fields, but most, at minimum, were bulldozed into “looking the other way” or got burned out trying to fight the bad guys.)
California is still a work in progress. I am mentioning it to provide hope, because it does represent a sea change in acknowledgment that there is a problem, and that professionals and their attorneys are a big part of it.
Also, I was directed to StealAnEstate.com via a posting on an American Bar Association discussion group on Elder Abuse Prevention and Response.
As part of the law changes in California, there will be a list of Fiduciaries **who have been removed by the court** Problem is that investigation has shown that some counites failed to make reports. Also, suspects may resign when they see the handwriting on the wall.
One thing we are trying to establish is a non-government based tracking system for complaints about fiduciaries and their attorneys, and the outcome of the complaints. If this of interest to anyone, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Regards,
Dan Fontana
INTEGRITY GROUP
Security Consultants – Professional Investigators
6654 Koll Center Parkway
Suite 32-4316
Pleasanton, CA 94566
California Investigator License 15604
925.484.4911
d.fontana@IntegrityGroup.us
July 18, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I am glad to have found this website.
My story is over the top unreal.
My mom died about 8 months ago. My father being 86 years old deeply missed his wife of 50 years.
Long story short, my brother and I were both served with restraining orders to stay away from my father. He is convinced that we want to steal his money and put him in a nursing home.
My sister and her “bum” husband are the only people my father now trusts.
My sister has put phone blocks from both my brother and I from contacting her. My sister has always had big spending problems. They are now living in a $400,000 home and driving new cars. Her husband earns $800.00 per month disability check. (That’s another scam). She works only part time and probably earns no more than $1,000 per month. That $400,000 home was purchased a year ago with “NO MONEY DOWN”. My sister has said horrible things to all my relatives back east. I feel like my life has been destroyed. I am so hurt. My brother and I at least have each other.
Prior to all this, my relationship with my parents was always very good. From what I have been researching, this type of things is becomming more common.
July 26, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Have you seen my book “The Family War: Winning the Inheritance Battle”? It’s all about estate disputes. http://www.thefamilywar.com….
We have been in Newspapers across the country.
I hope that our book helps avoid these types of disputes, or if they happen, to diffuse them as quickly as possible.
Regards,
Jordan
July 28, 2007 at 10:35 am
I ordered that book and my brother and I have both been reading it. It is very good. Unfortunately, I was not aware of how my sister and her husband had been plotting for a long time to turn my father against my brother and myself. I should had paid attention to the warning signs much sooner. They live way beyond their means.
It is amazing how family members become your worst enemy. I have heard similar stories from people over the years, but never thought it would happen to me. Why?…because our family always got together on holidays, exchanged gifts at Christmas, sent birthday cards, planned vacations together. We seemed tight. Well guess what. If it happened to me, it can happen to anyone else.
I would encourge anyone who has aging parents with assets to read your book. Pay attention to the different personalties and characteristics of siblings, friends and relatives. Keep your eyes open and protect yourself. Pay attention!
August 1, 2007 at 12:51 am
Like Mysty I NEVER, NEVER thought this could happen in our family. I thought as families go we were loving and close.
Where do I start? I meet my husband in Jr. High School. He and his twin were the oldest of five children. We are now 59 and 60 yrs. old. His parents had come from humble but honest backgrounds, and worked hard. His father was one of the first to develope offshore drilling platforms with the largest oil company in the USA. When they retired to the family ranch they were more than comfortable.
When my husband and I first married we took care of the ranch and another family farm for 6 yrs. We did this so his parents (his sister and two younger brothers) could live and work in Norway. It was an amazing oppertunity. It was very hard on us as a young married couple . We were not paid to do this and it never crossed our mines to be paid because this is what families do. It was at this ranch that all our family gatherings would take place. Untill our kids got into high school we went to the ranch many, many times during the year. We loved this place!! About 1995 we saw the plans his father had to divide the ranch into 5 parts equal parts and where each childs part would be. We were all trilled!
I’m telling this story so that you might understand the hurt that hit all of us after his father (2005) and mothers (2006) death. In 2000 my husbands sister moved into another house on the ranch, to “care for them when they were old”. After his mother died and after her service we (my huband, his twin and younger brother) were informed that the sister and youngest brother were to get the ranch (all the contince of the house) – essentially 4/5 th of the inheritiance and the three brothers were to split 1/5th. From their parents house my husband got a deer rifle! There was no letter from his parents with an explanation – nothing.
God has blessed my husbands business and we are not after monitary gain. But my husbands twin lost his company and all his retirement only a few years before his fathers death and was out of work for 10 months. At 58 yrs he is starting over. The younger brother was also not able to working for over 18 months before he found employment about 2 yrs before. I know my sister-in-law and brother-in-law were not hurting for money because he is employed by my huband and I know how much he makes a year. He saw my husband 5 days a week for 6 yrs and never said a thing. We trusted them and all we were told is “That’s what mother and daddy wanted.” They stole not only the bulk of the inheritience but my husbands confidence that is parents even loved him. You see he felt like they didn’t respect him enough to talk to him about this.
The really mind blowing thing was as I read “How to Steal an Estate” the charactoristics in each paragraph was dead spot on to my sister-in-law. I know it was ment to be sarcastic but almost all of it REALLY HAPPENED!!!!
August 2, 2007 at 8:59 pm
The following site details the atrocities happening to our family. A sister has turned my father against the rest of the family. she has taken control and ownership of their home.
My mother has Alzhiemers. so this is a race against time.
http://rileyleagueofjustice.blogspot.com/
If anyone can offer any advice PLEASE go to the above site and leave a comment. ANY help is greatly appreciated.
August 7, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Donna and Pat, you are in my prayers, as well as all others who have experienced such horrific deeds by our own family members. It is certainly something that has caused us all grief. It has been 6 months since I have spoken to my sister or her husband. I will never be speaking to her children again either. How could I? They are going to stand by mom and dad. I can’t believe she claims to be a church going christian.
I am so sad every day about what has happend, but I know I must go on. It is not really the money that bothers me. I have been employed with a good job and will have a good retirement.
September 26, 2007 at 1:07 am
[...] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~How To Steal an Estate …Identify Elderly Affluent People Who Are Alone – Target people who do not have strong family relationships, who are either estranged from their families and children or whose families live and work out of state…. Aversion to Extended Care – Targets often exhibit a horror of nursing homes and extended care facilities and have a strong desire and determination to continue living in their home until they die. If they move, your years of hard work may be wasted…. Alcohol Helps – Alcohol lowers people’s resistance, raises their susceptibility to suggestion, makes them relax, feel good and festive. It’s easy to manipulate alcoholics and make them angry and emotional… People Are Especially Susceptible To Suggestion When Sleepy – During those hazy, lazy moments when they are just drifting off to sleep or waking up. Visit or telephone when the impact of your communication will linger in their minds long after you finish. … [...]
October 5, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Hi, I’m cindy. I found to steal an estate a very eye opening website for me. It is happening to me! i am an only child of an 80 year old very ill father. Who has a male friend…. a friend that started coming around after my mother died. Him and his wife. They have emptied out all my fathers possessions, right under my nose, and i live there! to watch over him. They have taken thousands in and have moved onto cutting down standing trees off my fathers land. Alot of trees.It is horrible and getting out of hand. My father will not admit that this is going on, altho all the other neighbors see it too.The thing that gets me the most is their blazen attitude. It is rightfully theirs to take!!! My father has even threatened me with a gun. When i read to steal an estate, i saw Everything they were doing. I am now on a operation i call ” to catch a con” wish me luck. cindy
October 26, 2007 at 1:15 am
Skimming down through “How To Steal an Estate”, really answered so many of my nightmare questions and ordeal. My father was an only child and died soon after his 51st birthday. My retired grandparents (both of sound mind at the time), came to me as the most trusting out of all 5 grandchildren and laid out their sweetheart will to be divided equally in 1/6 th shares that included my biological mother. My biological mother went off dating others shortly after my fathers death and was sporatically in the family circle, only during major holidays. My grandfather died 2 years after my father died, leaving my grandmother devasted and vulnerable. Six years lather, my biological mother and other siblings who fell on hard times, formed this conspiracy with the help of my grandmothers attorney. In secret the power of attorney was taken away from me. My biological mother moved in with my grandmother, got half ownership of her house for a dollar. Then her and one of my brothers put a $76,000.00 lean against grandmothers house to buy a farm and large piece of land. All her stocks, bonds, CD’s, heir looms, coin collection soon disappeared. When they cut off her trees and all her timber, I obtained photo’s, hoping the area agency for elders would help. I was attacked by flying rocks when I tried to get more photo’s and yes, I got photo’s of my brothers tossing apples and rocks at me, only to find myself defending myself in a magistrates court with the photo’s after my biological mother lied and said it was me, the photo’s cleared that false allegation, but not the rest of this case. I wrote numerous complaints to the DA’s office, Sheriffs Office, and area agencies, including the state officials, for unknow reasons, nobody would do anything or get seriously involved. It was only after my own daughter had a child and moved back home after the relationship fell apart did some evidence come to surface. My daughter hired an attorney to represent her in a child custody case and this vengeful family of mine, got involved with the opposing family to fight vigorously to get the child taken away from my daughter to get even with me. The attorney my daughter had was fighting zealously, until my grandmothers attorney’s nasty letters attacking me a few years prior, NOW resurface again at my daughters custody hearing to rattle her emotions. My daughters attorney acted like he took a sleeping pill and started attacking me, telling my daughter I should seek couseling and all other garbage. My husband called this attorney and they argued over this change in attorney behavior (only to be billed later for this crap). Come to find out from a very old phone book dated back to 1975, the president judge in my local county, my grandmothers attorney and my daughters attorneys father were all in practice together for several years. It appears there are people in power who are hanging up their black robe for a janitors suit to keep cleaning up judical wrongs. Now, it becomes clear why the D.A.’s office, sheriffs office and the area on aging would not stay involved. My grandmother is now rotting in a nursing home among strangers and none of the rest of my siblings or biological mother go see grandmother, now that she is poverty level and at the tax payers expense now. My grandmother had long term home health care insurance (the expensive kind), when my biological mother moved in and was on disability herself, told my grandmother she did not need that costly insurance and she would always be the one who took care of her. This costly insurance would of paid for home care, but when someone is on disability they can’t show they are making alot of money, so the insurance company I am sure laughed all the way to the bank on that case. Twenty years my grandparents and grandmother alone paid for that costly insurance and when the time came it could of been used, it was manipulated into dropping it and the extra monthly cash of course went into this caregivers pocket. My biological mother ran off with one of my grandmothers insurance men and the $180,000.00 house they bought was from my grandmothers estate I’m sure. The insurance man had an already $50,000 lean against the house he was living in and my biological mother on disability, so how did they come up with a large amount of money for an elaborate $180,000.00? One attorney actually came out and told me that too much power is behind protecting the wrong of this attorney and it would be suicidal to continue my complaints. Every time I do, the system takes it out on my daughter during her child custody battles. The last time I continued this, my daughter was sued in court for more time by the childs father and his attorney and nobody invited her to the court date and he got alot more custody time. Sorry for the long venting, it is frustrating, knowing they scammed my grandmother out of her golden nest egg and then tossed her in a nursing home. I’ve been raked and reraked over hot coals on this subject matter. And the hits just keep coming. My daughter has to go in front of this same president judge, she showed that her ex had a dangerous Rottweiler dog that preyed on chickens and cats. She showed the concerns of a large unfenced pond, she showed cancelled checks where the guy frequents the bars, she also had a P.I. report showing the ex was just picking up the child and dropping the child off with his girlfriend or mother and the P.I. also had this ex clocked at 80 miles an hour in a hurry to get to a golf scrabble, while the child was in the vehicle with his new pregnant girlfriend (who took off with the child after dropping the ex off)…………The judge ignored all these concerns of saftety and awarded more custody time for the ex. Each time my daugher gets a new attorney $1700 dollar retainer plus fee’s, and none will ask for venue or change of judge. She is now representing herself after 3 lawyers started out zealously and then laid down like a sleeping dog. My daughter was also forced to give up breastfeeding after 5 months of custody battle and had to turn over a small baby to over night visits. Why is over nights more important than breastfeeding, when the surgeon general pacifically states 6 months is best and a year is even better because it appears to lower S.I.D.S. (sudden infant death syndrome). First, it was my grandmother with this county, now my daughter is being used as a pon to keep me at bay, if I don’t these cases are treated like the maffia, they get even through your loved ones. Bizarre and so unbelievable at times. I have a document where my grandmothers attorney, writes to the area agency, stating he knew about the lean against my grandmothers home, but it was only a temporary thing, that is odd because it has now been over 4 years ago and nobody will follow up on it. My grandmothers attorney took an early retirement but still haunts me with his letters, keeping this case closed even though he’s suppose to be in retirement. The only other thing I felt I could do is write a book about everything, but it’s so bizarre at times it would be labeled fiction and not based on a true story………….thanks for letting me vent here!!!
February 24, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Just happened to me. My Dad’s will said everything was to be split 50-50 with my sister. After he died 6 years ago, my sister within months had my my sign a deed of Waranty leaving her their house. Then she setup a trust and in it had all the contents of the house go to her.
My sister told my mom if she didn’t sign everything over to her she wouldn’t help her pay her condo fees (2k a year), she told her I refused to help I offered every year but my sister said no she would pay it. My mom never told me about the deed, trust or will. She was a willing participant in giving my sister everything against my Dad’s wishes. The worst, my sister told my mom (and who else) lies about me which she believed. My sister was bipolar and before she committed sucide she made my mom sign papers giving everything to her husband and son. My mom just told me this weekend. Now that my sister isn’t around she wants me to visit and to spend time with my family. I just can’t do it. I am to hurt and angry, they wanted a sister and daughter for all these years but failed to tell me that they had disinhered me and my family. How sick.
April 4, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I am a member of the National Association to STOP Guardian Abuse (NASGA) – an organization of victims and families of victims fighting to expose and stop unlawful and abusive guardianships/conservatorships.
Guardians and their attorneys are the best of the best of estate stealers. They steal more than estates, though, they also steal lives.
Thank you for this website. Please visit ours: http://www.StopGuardianAbuse.org
April 8, 2008 at 9:01 pm
“How To Steal An Estate”?…. This piece is evil, accurate and very effective! Wow!!!! Good job! Joe Roubicek
April 22, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Below is a letter sent to the Estate lawyer looking after my Mother’s Estate, who passed away in September, last year. Myself and my Sister, were listed as joint powers of attorney and joint legal trustees as per the will. Any suggestions regarding this issue as th elawyer states that he cannot represent either of us independently.
Dear Mr.XXXXX:
In reference to our phone call, you asked me to write a letter, on my behalf and on my Brother, XXXXXXXX’S behalf, showing the details pertaining to our recommendation for the removal of my Sister, XXXXXXXXXXX, by the courts as Legal Estate Trustee. I am putting in point form the reason’s for which the recommendation is being made.
- The removal of all documents in my Mother, XXXXXXXX’s house, prior to my arrival before her death.
- I have copies of investments and accounts which my Mother held, during her lifetime. Discussion about the documents led to threats of lawsuits and slander through my Sister’s lawyer, namely XXXXXXX.
- I was unable to discuss these issues, civilly or jointly, without putting myself in a vulnerable situation of impending lawsuits.
- Denial from my Sister, that my Brother-in law, XXXXX managed my Mother’s investments. On the request of XXXXX, I signed a form, hastily, without the time or ability to read it over, years ago, which he informed me, at that time, that it gave him permission to control my Mother’s investments.
- XXXXXXXXXXX has proceeded without assistance by me, to control every aspect of settling matters pertaining to the estate and then demanding outrageous compensation for the work she did. Due to the removal of all documentation prior to my arrival, I was left in a helpless situation, unable to do a legitimate search of any documents necessary to assist in investigation of financial findings or to assist in correspondence to cancel accounts or to do any of the duties required by me as joint trustee.
- On the advice of my lawyer, XXXXXXXX, I was advised to agree, totally, and not to show any disagreement with my Sister in order to get Legal trustee status so that I may be able to do a legal search into the matters that were in question resulting from the removal and inability to see original documents.
- The treatment of my brother and I immediately after my Mother’s death, by my sister and her husband, was in our opinion, cruel and unsympathetic. Because of the control they held in the situation, it was forced on us to, race through the settlement of the estate, to get it finished, without time to grieve our Mother’s death. Because legal appointment had not been established, we were forced to agree to her terms, without question. Even the correspondence from the funeral home was removed so I was unable to send thank you cards to my family and friends on my Mother’s behalf.
- During the distribution process, I was made put a dollar value on every item, whether sentimental or not, taken by family from the house. Unnecessary paperwork to itemize things that she wanted divided, as to create an account for final distribution was insisted upon, by XXXXX, even though they had full access to the house before anyone was there, and then stated that we were not allowed on their property. Because they admitted to holding documents there, they implicated that they, again, controlled access by me, to see, or act on, any of the information pertaining to the estate.
- XXXXXX’s disclosure of assets owned by my Mother, during her lifetime, did not include previous investments my Mother held. Her refusal to civilly discuss this and the threats made by her, to me, for wanting to discuss them, made it impossible for me to communicate with her.
- In the hopes that we would be able to communicate about issues pertaining to accounts, numerous communications through letter and e-mail have been sent, and my request to sit down, together with my Brother and XXXXX, as he has always been my Mother’s advisor pertaining to investments, to discuss my Mother’s documents, have been ignored. Direct questions have been asked to my Sister. Instead of direct answers to the questions, only explanations of other events which she has done for my Mother have been sent. Private accounts, belonging to, my sister & husband, discussed, in a letter from her lawyer, were stated as being one and the same as my Mother’s accounts, were grounds for being questioned. XXXXXX has stated that their personal accounts are none of our business.
- My sister’s latest letters contained many apologies for removing documents, and her excuse being that she didn’t realize that there was a lack of communication between the two of us until you made her aware of it. Any time I tried to initiate the issues in question, pertaining to anything financial about my Mother’s assets, I was threatened with lawsuits. I felt that up to this point, I could not discuss anything with her for the fear that I would put myself in a vulnerable position, by her. I have never accused her of anything except stating that there were discrepancies in the investments that XXXXX showed pertaining to the XXXXXXXX Bank, as his statement disclosed to us, was her last GIC investment from the XXXX and some money she held in her savings account, invested at the XXXXXXXX Bank in November, 2006. No prior investments have been shown, in his disclosure, dating back to the death of my Father in 1982.
- My sister has always conveyed that she has done so much for my Mother throughout her lifetime. My Mother has, in the past, showed signs and conveyed to me and other family members, abusive treatment and because of my distance situation, I couldn’t remove her from it. It was partially due to complete control of her, by my sister and her husband. The fear of alienation and total reliance on them to look after her, was always an issue with my Mother. I was forced to not act on her behalf, on her wishes, because if anyone was made aware of the situation, her fear of their actions was very extreme. My brother could not be made aware of the situation, because, at that time, he was still in close contact with XXXXXX and XXXXX. I have since explained to him that the fear of him telling XXXXXX and XXXXX, would leave her vulnerable to further problems. The fact that my Mother would not leave her home, for reasons that only she could understand, was another issue. In my Mother’s past, it has been acknowledged by myself, and my brother that my Mother was made to compensate my sister and brother-in law for everything they did to made her life livable. My brother can verify this. The direct control and treatment of my brother and me, by my sister during these Estate dealings is a prime example of the way my Mother had been treated while in their care. I do have some evidence to back up this claim, but I wanted it to be known, by their actions toward us, and the control they held, what measures they would go to, to do this.
- In trying to get cooperation in financial disclosure, in XXXXXX’s last letter, she states that she would not sit down to discuss my Mother’s prior investment documentation. I was told by my sister, that I would need legal permission to search my Mother’s past and that I should ask help from you or (my lawyer) to be able to do this. She has stated that when I have exhausted my search, only then would she, agree to do this. She agreed to send the box of documents by bus to me, but I feel that if documents haven’t already been disclosed, they may have been removed prior to my getting them.
- Undue stress and lack of cooperation in trying to obtain information pertaining to dealing with XXXXXX, and the total frustration resulting from her total control and behavior regarding this issue, has resulted in this request of having her removed as Legal trustee. I have consulted with my brother and he agrees with the request. Leaving her in the position she is, we are afraid that she will cause more unnecessary expense and complications to the estate, before it is settled.
I hope this letter is appropriate and meets your request for an itemized list pertaining to the reason for removal of XXXXXX, as Legal Trustee in the Estate of XXXXXXXXXXX. If it is too in depth, I apologize, but the explanation has somehow, snowballed.
If you think mediation can be accomplished between XXXXXX and me, by you, in this matter, my brother and I would really appreciate the attempt.
I have reviewed my Mother’s income tax statements with her income tax preparer, and a list of prior investment companies and account numbers have been obtained, since 1993.
I have written to the XXXXXXXXX in Barrie, and requested any information pertaining to my Mother’s account dealings and investments, that they held on microfilm. A fee of $60.00 was mailed, in order to get the paper copies of these documents. They informed me that they had the legal certificate and because I was not there in person, to prove my identity, they would send the documentation to you.
I would appreciate a call, when you receive this information.
We sincerely thank you for taking the time to review this matter.
XXXXXXXXXXX.
April 24, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I’m putting a link to your site on my website. I have a general practice — but even with everything else going on, I’ve rescued a few estates, and also seen the thieves described walk away with everythng.
I wish I could provide a formula on which a family, or an elderly person facing disability and death could rely — but the best I can do is to say –just do your best.
April 25, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I also have experienced much of what is described on this site. The step-by-step instructions on how to steal an estate is a beautiful use of parody that nails the ugliness of what I call the Involuntary Redistribution of Assets (IRA). My congratulations!
With that, IRA describes the process in which unscrupulous individuals use the age and/or incapacitation of a person to gain control of their personal assets and “redistribute” them in a manner contrary to what the person intended. It can happen during the person’s lifetime or posthumously. Family members, friends or even “trusted” associates like a lawyer or caregiver are potential IRA practitioners. With legal and financial maneuvering, IRA can be accomplished totally within the limits of the law. These cases often occur within legal frameworks such as guardianships, trusts or wills.
Historically, court battles are the traditional “remedy” for such actions. Win or lose, the massive financial expense, as well as emotional toll, often yields the only true “winners” in these cases to the participating lawyers. As more of these cases occur and affect people at levels throughout the economic spectrum, “shining light on the dark side of estate management” is viewed as a first step toward serious and impactful public dialogue that can lead to policy changes designed to shut down IRA practitioners and return integrity to the arena of estate management, including the probate process.
Please visit http://www.EstateofDenial.com for view our story. This site also provides an archive of IRA media reports and original commentary.
June 26, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I’m glad I read this. It all happened to my father and me and my two brothers. I often feel “crazy” because no one believes this stuff can happen or wants to do anything about it. My dad was not perfect but the stuff that happened mostly to ME as his normal nice daughter trying to protect him was horrifying. He had Parkinson’s, diabetes and heart complications and it started very slowly – old girlfriend came back to town, seized health care control and ex business partner and dad’s accountant were all involved in coaching her. I saved most of my dad’s estate but he was forced to sign off a lot of his business and I was literally barred from driving through the security gate to visit my dad in Rancho Mirage, CA. I couldn’t see him when he died. He would be on the phone with me saying, “I don’t understand. I don’t care who visits but THEY tell me you can’t come over.” An absolute nightmare I’ll never get over. Hard for me to go to doctors now as I trust no one.
July 6, 2008 at 2:46 am
Guardian abuse is rampant in New York State. “legalized” abuse by the courts that are supposed to protect our loved ones are the very ones abusing them.
Wake up America ! Baby boomers your next!
August 26, 2008 at 12:18 am
I watched a very close family friend be convinced to give money to bogus causes and to change an estate plan that had been in place for years. Since he’d never been married, there was no one with legal standing to question what was going on. Once I began my own research into the effects of undue influence I began hearing many similar stories… a few that happened to relatives, but even more that happened to friends or neighbors with no heirs.
Please visit the site http://ElderUndueInfluence.org/stories/ to get a small sampling. If you’ve got an experience to share, whether it relates to a friend, relative or acquaintance, please follow the link to the questionnaire at the end of that page. The survey allows you to enter as little, or as much information as you are comfortable with. You can enter contact information, or leave it blank and remain anonymous.
Thank you in advance for helping with this project!
October 24, 2008 at 5:21 pm
My brother in law is an attorney. I just have one older sister married to HIM.
We discussed bringing out our widowed mom from CA 3 years ago because she was starting to get dementia and had called the police and her bank (I did not know this at the time) telling them my brother in law stole $4,000 from her. (I heard it from my son).
He and my older sister packed her up and brought her back to Phoenix to live a a nursing home in a nice private room. Everything seemed fine.
One day I asked my Mom where her papers and checkbook were. She didn’t know! I called my sister (who would not take my call) and my brother in law said my mom created a Living Trust with a friend of his ( an attorney friend) and it was all finished and she signed it. Mom said she never signed anything. She had no recollection of an attorney coming to her room and signing papers (as he had told me).
I had my mom write a note and sign it allowing me to get a copy of any and all papers from the Living Trust attorney. The attorney would not allow me a copy!
He suggested I come down to his office to ‘view’ it. I did that. How could I understand that legal jargon? It was bizarre to sit there and page through this ‘big book’ all by myself in a room!!
I noticed my name was taken off everything which on older wills my mom created, used to say I was co-executor with my sister. No more.
my brother in law’s name RULES.
Now, everything of my mother’s is owned and controlled by my attorney brother in law and his attorney friend and I am only mentioned once in the will as getting money to help with bills when she dies. Meanwhile I’ve done nothing because I don’t know how to go up against these two attorneys AND not upset my mom over it. She thinks my brother in law is ‘untrustworthy’ and tells me everything is fine with her will and my sister and I am co-executives of it. When pressed on details she gets very upset and threatens to give it away to charity. She can’t stand to think it’s in jepardy or we’re greedy.
One other horrible thing I didn’t mention is that my mom did not believe in the stock market and never had a dime in it. My brother in law invested it in the stock market!! I told him not to do that but he said they’re only in SAFE THINGS! (big joke now!)
Is there anything I can do without them contacting my mom? I’m so afraid if she gets upset she’d have a heart attack. Then I would be responsible. After calling my brother in law AGAIN about getting a copy of the will, one was finally sent to me. I have not opened it.
My feelings of hatred toward my brother in law for stealing from my mom and not letting me talk to my sister in years is a lot to bear.
Any ideas are welcome!