Elderly relative *possibly* being conned - what to do?
Discussion
I hope that this is in the correct section - apols if not.
Here we go...
my wife's elderly aunt (92) is being cared for by her neighbour (let's call him 'Freddy', 84) which on the face of it is great given that the relie is quite a ways away from everyone else and to be fair he does go round every day and called the ambulance when she had a bad turn etc etc. So far so good. However as you might imagine this is where things start taking a different turn... aunt has changed her will to leave the majority of her estate to 'Freddy'. Again while it may put a few noses out of joint SFW, it's her money/estate, she can do what she likes. The issue is it, potentially, then becomes a little more murky. Not only has 'Freddy' got power of attorney and is now trying to stop her family from talking to/seeing her ("she's upset and doesn't want to talk to/see you. I've got P.o.A. and I don't want to talk to you"), again not proof positive and it could be genuine. The issue is that he has got previous with this (which was known), he became friendly with a widow looked after her and was left a healthy sum and the family has now found out he'd actually done this to yet another widow prior to this and had a major falling out with that late lady's family...
Now I have got 'no dog in this fight' (since I have only met the lady a few times) but my M.i.L. has now fallen out with her only remaining sibling ("I told you in confidence"... except she didn't tell my M.i.L.) and these suspicions are floating around like a bad smell. The question obviously is what, if anything, can be done. We think that aunt is fully compos mentis but who knows....
Here we go...
my wife's elderly aunt (92) is being cared for by her neighbour (let's call him 'Freddy', 84) which on the face of it is great given that the relie is quite a ways away from everyone else and to be fair he does go round every day and called the ambulance when she had a bad turn etc etc. So far so good. However as you might imagine this is where things start taking a different turn... aunt has changed her will to leave the majority of her estate to 'Freddy'. Again while it may put a few noses out of joint SFW, it's her money/estate, she can do what she likes. The issue is it, potentially, then becomes a little more murky. Not only has 'Freddy' got power of attorney and is now trying to stop her family from talking to/seeing her ("she's upset and doesn't want to talk to/see you. I've got P.o.A. and I don't want to talk to you"), again not proof positive and it could be genuine. The issue is that he has got previous with this (which was known), he became friendly with a widow looked after her and was left a healthy sum and the family has now found out he'd actually done this to yet another widow prior to this and had a major falling out with that late lady's family...
Now I have got 'no dog in this fight' (since I have only met the lady a few times) but my M.i.L. has now fallen out with her only remaining sibling ("I told you in confidence"... except she didn't tell my M.i.L.) and these suspicions are floating around like a bad smell. The question obviously is what, if anything, can be done. We think that aunt is fully compos mentis but who knows....
thanks for the responses all - I'll put them to Mrs Iroc when she gets in. Like I said taken at face value my initial opinion was SFW - it's her estate to dispose of as she sees fit. What is concerning the family is the 'hold' he seems to be applying - that and the fact that my wife's aunt is number 3 (that's always assuming there weren't others).
Simpo Two said:
Bering in mind the experience of someone I know who let a similar situation develop and some years later on found out there was £80,000 missing - I'd want to check her finances somehow. You may think Freddy would never take your aunt down to the cashpoint and get her to take thousands out - but it can and does and did happen. You won't get it back so check the door is shut now.
wow! that's not good to hear (though obviously we are all aware that stuff like this happens). Apparently he has told various family members that he is her carer (I'm assuming un-official given his age, or does age not count with something like this?) "she asks to go to xyz and I take her, she wants xyz and we go and get it"To the best of my knowledge he is 'just a friend' rather than an IFA. Interestingly enough apparently the family of last person he cared for tried to contest the will in court but were unsuccessful (I don't know the reason why and to be fair this is just scuttlebutt) and the amount involved was comparatively small.
Well more things are coming to light some of which (as a layman) give me cause for concern.
Apparently the solicitors who have re-done the will told her not to speak to the family about it.
She also apparently had a mental faculties test the day before the will was signed (AIUI this isn't a 'one off' test but takes place over a number of weeks months?).
Her niece went down on Wednesday and was prevented from seeing her ("she doesn't want to see you") & he's virtually moved in. In other words there is no way to see her with Freddy around....
We've contacted several parties to start the ball rolling but we really need to get a wiggle on since another concern is that if he knows he's being left everything & he is a wrong 'Un then what incentive is there for him to continue treating her well (or am I guilty of watching too many films)?
Apparently the solicitors who have re-done the will told her not to speak to the family about it.
She also apparently had a mental faculties test the day before the will was signed (AIUI this isn't a 'one off' test but takes place over a number of weeks months?).
Her niece went down on Wednesday and was prevented from seeing her ("she doesn't want to see you") & he's virtually moved in. In other words there is no way to see her with Freddy around....
We've contacted several parties to start the ball rolling but we really need to get a wiggle on since another concern is that if he knows he's being left everything & he is a wrong 'Un then what incentive is there for him to continue treating her well (or am I guilty of watching too many films)?
Simpo Two said:
Freddy and/or his advisers are smart. They know the Will is likely to be contested so have had the mental faculties test done to shut that particular loophole. The solicitor also knows it's contentious, hence his advice not to speak to the family. Remember that the solicitor is - or should be - acting for the lady, NOT the family or anyone else.
How did you find out about the mental test?
again this is all hearsay - but apparently one of Mrs Iroc's cousins found this out (how I don't know). My MiL spoke to Freddy the other day and he told her that "well if I'd married her you couldn't do anything about it". How did you find out about the mental test?
That being said a few other inquiries are being made, in this case, with people who deal with this sort of thing on a regular basis and the advice was un-equivocally - this should be a police matter, which was quite surprising that they were so forthright. That being said that is now for the family to decide. As I said to the MiL - God forbid that the sister dies in the next 6 months she and Mrs Iroc's cousins will always be wondering if it was neglect or genuine.... messy old business.
Will keep people posted - thanks for the postings so far, if there are any more thoughts on this please post away
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