Everyone who lives will eventually grow old. Sometimes elderly individuals lose their mental and physical strength related to their aging. In these situations, they can be subject to undue influence concerning the money they have in the bank, other financial assets and real estate they own. The undue pressure can come from a variety of sources. Sometimes caregivers, relatives, friends and other loved ones take advantage of seniors who are in a reduced mental state. A senior who is in a weakened mental or physical state may be induced to make bad decisions. In addition, seniors may also become incapable of tending to their financial affairs, their medical treatment and caring for themselves. In these situations, the legal proceedings that are required to help the seniors are called guardianship proceedings.
Guardianship proceedings deal with helping seniors make medical and financial decisions. In addition, it stops other individuals from taking advantage of seniors who are in a reduced psychological or physical state. Seniors in reduced mental and physical states can be taken advantage of with regard to their assets and other financial matters. This can cause the value of the senior’s estate which was intended to be paid to loved ones or other beneficiaries to be significantly reduced.
Expeditious Legal Action
If someone is being taken advantage of to his or her financial detriment, it is important legal action be taken quickly and efficiently. If your rights as a loved one or other beneficiaries have been compromised or are in the process of being compromised, bringing a guardianship case not only helps the affected senior, but protects inheritance rights as well. Sometimes family members sit back and take no legal action to deal with the dissipation of assets of a loved senior by an unscrupulous or inappropriate person. The longer you wait to straighten out this type of improper situation, the more difficult it becomes to retrieve the assets.
Immediate Legal Action Regarding Misappropriated Assets
Legal action should be taken immediately when you become aware of the misappropriation of a senior’s assets by a third party. This will protect the senior from losing all of his or her assets and protect the potential beneficiaries with regard to inheriting from the estate.