Latest Scam Can Steal Your Parents -- and Your Inheritance -- From You
36690
Home & Family > Elderly Care
Aug 3, 2007
questmedia
Latest Scam Can Steal Your Parents -- and Your Inheritance -- From You
There's a new scam targeting the elderly that may shock you. If you've got an aging parent, it's imperative that you know how to take precautions. In this scam, the crooks actually take guardianship of your parents. And once this one happens, you lose some very important rights with regard to your parents and their possessions. But if you take the right steps now, you can make sure this never happens you. Your parents become a target when they begin to lose their ability to take care of themselves. They can come in contact with someone who wants to perpetrate this scheme through various means, but it's usually a crooked lawyer or medical professional who knows how to manipulate the legal system. Once the crook identifies your parent as a target, all they have to do is tell a judge that your parent can't take of himself anymore and request guardianship. As long as the person has taken a short course in guardianship at the local college, has a high school diploma, has no felony record, and is over 18 years of age, the judge will usually comply. The crook doesn't even have to be related. Once they have guardianship, the crook can take everything your parent owns -- legally! He can access bank accounts, brokerage accounts, real estate, and any other funds or assets your parent may have. And do whatever he wants with the money. The action usually happens fast, and you and your parent may never know about the decision until all your parent's assets are gone. And, what's worse, once the property is gone, it's very difficult to get back. The courts tend to favor the guardian over family. And the documents needed to take action are usually sealed by the court to "protect" your parent. So it's vital you take action now, before your parent is a victim. Here's what you need to do: There are two forms you need to have your parent fill out. These will protect him better than anything else. The first is called the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. This document allows the person of his choice to handle his health care issues in the event he can't act on his own behalf. You can usually find these forms on the Internet for free. And some hospitals offer them. The other form isn't as easy to get. It's called a regular Durable Power of Attorney. You'll probably have to take your parent to an attorney to have this done. Make sure you find a reputable attorney -- preferably one who has helped friends or other family members. The Durable Power of Attorney allows your parent to choose who will take care of his finances if he's not able to do so. This document makes it impossible for someone else to step in as guardian. And it protects your parent's assets.
Steve Kroening writes for Success magazine and also publishes Wisdom's Edge. You can get Biblical tips on health, finance, relationships, parenting, and success, delivered to your email inbox every week. Simply visit http://www.wisdomsedge.com and sign up for this free e-zine.
send email to questmedia
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links at Home & Family > Elderly Care
You may be suprised as to why this new type of tub is being touted as the saviour of bathroom safety for seniors. We have some of the answers for you here.
Category:
Fact is as we grow older, we need to keep in shape more than the younger generation. With age the capabilities of the entire body system, muscles, organs, and mind, deteriorate and need more care than before.
Category:
Chair lifts are useful in enhancing e mobility of e people wi handicaps. There are various types of chair lifts in e market, ranging from ose at raise e chair to anoer level for stairs or vehicles to lifts at raise a person to a level
Category:
This is the day you thought wod never happen. Your roles in life are reversing. You?re trying to make decisions for yourself and your Aging Parent. What will be best for them without altering your life too drastically. How do you keep up the pace and
Category:
In today's world we are seeing a rapid rise in the ratio of senior persons in our population. It is appropriate that a wide variety of services are available to assist this growing senior population.
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68205
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
