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What can be done when it comes to financial abuse?

A frantic granddaughter explains in a newspaper column that she feels caught between a rock and a hard place as her grandmother’s resources dwindle. There is a lot of financial abuse going on, the granddaughter claims. She claims that both a friend of her grandmother’s, along with a relative, are stealing money.

This problem occurs more often common than you would think. How would you handle this situation? This article provides insight into how this delicate situation should be handled. In the meantime, there are always steps to take, and in particular, step three was suggested to the writer in question.

There are several steps that can be taken to address and prevent this type of abuse abuse:

Recognize the signs: It is important to be aware of the warning signs of financial abuse, which can include sudden changes in an elderly person’s monetary situation, unexplained withdrawals or transfers of funds, and unauthorized use of credit cards or bank accounts.
Report suspected abuse: If you suspect that an elderly person is being financially abused, it is important to report it to the appropriate authorities. This may include local law enforcement, adult protective services, or other organizations that specialize in elder abuse prevention.
Seek legal assistance: Elder law attorneys can help families protect their loved ones from financial abuse by creating legal documents such as powers of attorney and trusts. These documents can help prevent unauthorized access to an elderly person’s assets and ensure that their wishes are carried out in the event of their incapacity or death.
Educate family members: Family members and caregivers should be educated about the risks of this type of abuse and how to prevent it. This may include setting up safeguards such as automatic bill payment and direct deposit, limiting access to the person’s accounts, and monitoring financial transactions for unusual activity.
Stay vigilant: this type of abuse can be an ongoing problem, so it is important to stay vigilant and monitor an elderly person’s monetary situation on an ongoing basis. This may include regularly reviewing bank statements, credit card statements, and other financial records, and keeping an eye out for any unusual activity.

Following these steps should help ease the woman’s mind.

Austrian woman shreds fortune

In Austria, a testator has the right to dispose of their property by means of a Will, subject to certain mandatory inheritance rights of close relatives. However, a Testator may not completely disinherit their spouse or registered partner, who is entitled to at least 50% of the estate. Children of the testator are also entitled to a share of the estate, which may not be completely excluded by a Will.

In addition, there are some cases where a testator may not be able to disinherit an heir, even if they are not a spouse or registered partner or a direct descendant. For example, a Testator may be prevented from disinheriting an heir if they have a legal obligation to provide for that person, such as a child with a disability.

However, there are also some circumstances under which a testator may be able to disinherit an heir. For example, a testator may be able to disinherit a child who has been convicted of a serious crime against the testator or a family member, or who has severely mistreated the testator. Even in these cases, the disinherited child may still be entitled to their compulsory portion of the estate.

Overall, the ability to disinherit an heir in Austria is limited, and that is why one grandmother shred her 950,000 (in Euros) fortune; so her disinherited relatives wouldn’t get it. Unfortunately for the grandmother, it might be replaced and given to the relatives she hated so much. She literally shredded up her fortune so that they wouldn’t be able to get their hands on her money. An Austrian bank may end up actually replacing the shredded bills. She also went so far as to cut up her bank books. It seems a little unfair that her money is going to the people whom she least wanted to have it. She may have been better off to disappear and not let her relatives know her whereabouts. You can read more by clicking on the link below:

Austrian woman shreds her fortune.

Updated: Robin William’s wife and children settled the battle over his estate

Funnyman Robin William’s death by suicide was a huge shock to many who grew up watching Williams in several movies, shows, etc., over the years.

Robin Williams’ estate battle was a legal dispute that arose after his death in 2014. Williams, a beloved actor and comedian, left behind a sizable estate worth an estimated $100 million, including real estate, investments, and intellectual property rights.

The main issue in the estate battle was how Williams’ assets would be distributed among his heirs. Williams had been married three times and had three adult children from his first two marriages. His third wife, Susan Schneider Williams, was not the mother of any of his children.

Schneider Williams claimed that she was entitled to a significant portion of Williams’ estate, including his Tiburon, California home, which she had shared with him during their marriage. However, Williams’ children argued that they were entitled to the majority of their father’s assets, as outlined in his estate plan.

The dispute was resolved through a private settlement in 2015, which was not publicly disclosed. However, court documents revealed that the settlement allowed Schneider Williams to keep certain assets, including property in California and some of Williams’ personal effects, while the majority of his estate was left to his children.

According to this article, The battle between his wife and three children, Zachary, Zelda and Cody finally came to a resolution in the courts:

A) William’s wife, Susan Schneider Williams, retains ownership of their home in Tiburon, California
B) William’s children have acquired ownership of William’s memorabilia and awards, along with other (unnamed) items

You can read more HERE.

The Robin Williams estate battle serves as a reminder of the importance of proper estate planning and the potential complications that can arise in the absence of a clear and comprehensive estate plan.

Frank Gifford’s Last Will and Testament

Frank Gifford once played for the NFL. If you’re familiar with the name Gifford, then you most likely know the name and reputation of famous talk show host, Kathie Lee Gifford. The co-host of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee reigned supreme on America’s airwaves for more than a decade, but her admittedly less known husband of 29 years, Frank Gifford, had a successful television career of his own as the charismatic NFL sports commentator of Monday Night Football.

Originally married to Maxine Avis Ewat for six years, Frank divorced his first wife and married Kathie Lee in 1986. The marriage with Kathie produced two children: Cody (now 25) and Cassidy (now 22). His other three children, Jeff, Kyle and Victoria, were the product of his first marriage to Maxine.

Frank passed away on August 9^th, 2015, just a few weeks shy of his 85^th birthday.

Revelations surfaced last month that the majority of Frank’s $10 million dollar fortune was to be given to Kathie Lee and their children. Frank’s first wife, Maxine, was left nothing, while Jeff, Kyle and Victoria only received $2 million from that $10 million dollar fortune. Although an enormous sum to many, Frank’s Last Will and Testament clearly favours his second family over his first.

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