Financial Exploitation and Undue Influence Claims

According to a recent report, undue influence on elder people results in a loss of more than $23 billion annually! The three main types of undue influence are deception, duress, and unconscionable demands with perpetrators mainly motivated by greed and control. These greedy, control-driven people are often looking to manipulate the elder in order to benefit themselves or others close to them through financial exploitation.

Undue influence claims, however, can sometimes be false, which undermines testator wishes and promotes family feuds. Well-documented undue influence assessments can prevent years of litigation by covering all relevant behavioral issues of the elder. These assessments will help to preserve estates and carry out testator wishes. 

See Bennett Blum, Undue Influence and Financial Exploitation, Huffington Post, June 1, 2016.