Inheritance Heists Ch. 9: Undue Influence by Caregivers Against Elders

I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law.  I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that they can help you avoid estate disaster.

In this segment we’re going to show the mechanics of undue influence that we see in case after case with caregivers attempting to hijack estate and trust assets.

In the context of caregiving, undue influence often follows a predictable pattern:

• Isolation: The caregiver gradually limits the elder’s contact with friends and family, often under the guise of protecting the elder’s health or privacy.
• Dependency: The caregiver fosters a sense of dependency, making the elder feel that they cannot manage without the caregiver’s constant presence and assistance.
• Manipulation: The caregiver uses various tactics to manipulate the elder’s emotions and decision-making, often playing on fears of abandonment or financial insecurity.
• Financial Control: The caregiver gradually assumes control over the elder’s finances, often starting with small tasks like bill paying and progressing to larger financial decisions.
• Estate Planning Changes: Finally, the caregiver may pressure the elder to change their will, trust, or other estate planning documents to benefit the caregiver.

If you suspect undue influence by a caregiver in an estate dispute and you need help, you can call us at Hackard Law: 916-313-3030. We want to hear your story.