A lawyer's trying to grab my aunt's estate.

[Quartz]

(Insert copious swearing - I'm steamed).

Basically two solicitors turned up at her care home and were about to get her to sign an enduring power of attorney signing control of everything to a mate of theirs and an unknown 3rd party. The care home staff didn't stop them, of course. It was only by chance that I happenned to ring at the time. Fortunately my father lives 5 mins away so I rang him and he got there in time.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

(Insert copious swearing - I'm steamed).

Basically two solicitors turned up at her care home and were about to get her to sign an enduring power of attorney signing control of everything to a mate of theirs and an unknown 3rd party. The care home staff didn't stop them, of course. It was only by chance that I happenned to ring at the time. Fortunately my father lives 5 mins away so I rang him and he got there in time.

Wow... :\ That's just crazy....

 

[SteelDraco]

Wow. That's all kinds of slimy and underhanded. How did they go about it? I mean, it can't be as simple as 'You should give us all your stuff, and here's why.' Those people should be prosecuted for that kind of action. Taking advantage of the defenseless is reprehensible.

However, it does raise an important question. Is she competent to be making this kind of decision? Is it, perhaps, time for someone else to assume the decision-making role in her life?

 

[jaerdaph]

I'm glad to hear your family got there in time. Make sure you contact the police and demand the home taking care of your aunt turn over any surveillance video to them as well.

They must work for the firm of Boyd, Dewey, Cheatham and Howe.

 

[frankthedm]

(Insert copious swearing - I'm steamed).

Basically two solicitors turned up at her care home and were about to get her to sign an enduring power of attorney signing control of everything to a mate of theirs and an unknown 3rd party. The care home staff didn't stop them, of course. It was only by chance that I happenned to ring at the time. Fortunately my father lives 5 mins away so I rang him and he got there in time.

we are going to want more details than just this.

 

[Ferret]

Yeah, more details. Like how the hell are they allowed to do that?!

 

[bento]

Here in Dallas a story like this made the papers earlier this year.

Two antiques dealers targeted an elderly lady living alone in a valuable, but run-down, home in a historic section. Over the course of a couple years the men, who were in their 30s, would take the woman places and be her companion. When the elderly lady's health became worse, her daughter who lived out of state moved back to oversee her care. Somehow though the men kept showing up and the elderly lady was insistent that they were just friends and didn't want anything from her.

When the elderly lady went to stay in a convalesence home, the men showed up one day with an attorney, locked the door to her room, and had her sign papers giving them her entire estate. The daughter showed up soon after and had the men thrown out. But the deed was done.

Because it became such a headline in the news, a judge founded in the daughter's favor after the will was constested.

So, there are slime balls out there who target the elderly waiting to swoop in and take anything they can.

 

[adwyn]

In the 15 years I've been selling real estate I've seen this scam almost every year, and I'm in a low population area. I've seen the scam run by friends, relatives, attorneys, ministers, and strangers, and often with such garbled facts the perpetrators are effectively immune from prosecution even when caught.

Get an attorney and get one fast. Regardless of what the police say, get the attorney. There are a variety of ways to reverse anything that has been done and more ways to protect any assets - variations on the irrevocable living trust being my current favorite.

 

[Harmon]

Here is the States (not sure how it works in the UK) I would go down to the DA's office and camp out, explain the situation and see what criminal charges could be drummed up (doubtful any could, but worth looking into) then talk to a lawyer and see if suit can be brought against the lawyer.

Go after them, talk to the media and let them have the story, get this out there, you might save one more person the hassle and pain of having to save one's family a great deal of grief.

Also get papers drawn up and lock her Will down so that no one can do this again.

Good luck.

 

[frankthedm]

On the flip side, I can't help but wonder just how much worse the scammers are than some families who just basicly are waiting for an inheritance. I mean, if I'm ever rotting in some nursing home and my kids never show, I'll GLADLY sign my property over to some who at least visits me.

...insert nonspecific grumbly comment about families letting elders be nursing homes here...