Did a Sociopath Take Your Family’s Estate? | Abused Beneficiaries

Did a Sociopath Take Your Family’s Estate? | Abused Beneficiaries

• January 6, 2017 - Abused Beneficiaries, Estate Litigation, Trust Litigation,

Antisocial Personality Disorder is a diagnosis assigned to individuals who habitually violate the rights of others without remorse. In estate, trust and probate litigation, it’s an unfortunate fact that people who exhibit signs of this diagnosis, commonly known as sociopaths, are often the cause of estate disputes.

Lying, deception and manipulation are part and parcel of the sociopath’s strategy. Lying may include denial of the existence of a will or a trust. Once the existence of a will or trust is known, the liar may then deny the existence of the estate’s assets. The manipulation of one set of beneficiaries against another set is part of a sociopath’s toolkit of destruction. A sociopath using elder financial abuse or undue influence to effect death bed changes to the decedent’s long-held estate plans is not at all uncommon. So too is the sociopath’s lack of remorse for his or her actions.

Wrongdoers are not always logical. Discovery of their wrongdoing is often bewildering to logical people with an established set of cherished values. When estate wrongdoing is discovered, disbelief by the victim is a common reaction, followed by anger. We generally are engaged to do estate or trust litigation at the abused beneficiary’s anger stage. Our clients often express to us that they have to overcome their disbelief before engaging a probate or trust litigation attorney. We understand – we’ve protected many clients from sociopathic bad actors who prey on the unsuspecting.

We are hired to hold the wrongdoer accountable and to collect that which has been wrongfully taken from an heir or beneficiary. This is not always an easy task. Wrongdoers operate in the shadows, and once discovered they may vigorously fight efforts to bring them to justice and accountability. Sociopaths have no shame or sense of responsibility, and they’ll lie right up to the end if it’s convenient for them.

If you are dealing with estate or trust wrongdoing, know that our litigation team at Hackard Law is experienced and passionate about protecting our clients’ interests and preventing further harm to them. We serve clients throughout California – whether in Sacramento, Los Angeles or the Bay Area, and we’re there for them when they need us. You can call us at 916-313-3030. We’ll be happy to listen to your story and see how we can help you.