attorney in florida who handels stolen funds from bank account of grandmother

by Dr. Alexys Sauer Jr. 7 min read

Can a power of attorney steal money in Florida?

A power of attorney in Florida is a fiduciary who is supposed to use the POA only for the purpose of helping the person who created the durable power of attorney. After all, a Florida power of …

Can a power of attorney steal money from a senior citizen?

Grandmother's stolen funds. Hello, everyone. Thank you in advance for any help or advice you can offer me. This is the situation: My aunt has been taking care of my grandmother for almost two …

Who is responsible for client funds in an attorney's account?

Bank fraud is not taken lightly in the eyes of the court. Under federal law, the punishment for bank fraud falls under maximum sentencing guidelines. If you are convicted of bank fraud in federal …

Can an attorney charge a fee to maintain a personal bank account?

Banking & Finance lawyers help with compliance matters and provide regulatory solutions to help keep your business running smoothly. Use FindLaw to hire a local banking & finance lawyer to …

Can an executor withhold money from a beneficiary?

Executors can withhold monies from beneficiaries, though not arbitrarily. Beneficiaries may be unable or unwilling to receive a gift by a will. The executor's job is onerous and the time taken to execute a will may vary greatly.Oct 18, 2021

What are the 3 types of power of attorney?

Here are examples of the types of Alberta POAs that you may need:
  • Specific Power of Attorney. A specific power of attorney is the simplest power of attorney. ...
  • General Power of Attorney. A general power of attorney is used to give a very broad term of use to the attorney. ...
  • Enduring Power of Attorney. ...
  • Durable Power of Attorney.
Feb 1, 2022

What is inheritance theft?

Inheritance hijacking can be simply defined as inheritance theft — when a person steals what was intended to be left to another party. This phenomenon can manifest in a variety of ways, including the following: Someone exerts undue influence over a person and convinces them to name them an heir.

Can an executor override a beneficiary?

Ways an Executor Cannot Override a Beneficiary

An executor cannot change beneficiaries' inheritances or withhold their inheritances unless the will has expressly granted them the authority to do so. The executor also cannot stray from the terms of the will or their fiduciary duty.
May 12, 2021

What three decisions Cannot be made by a legal power of attorney?

You cannot give an attorney the power to: act in a way or make a decision that you cannot normally do yourself – for example, anything outside the law. consent to a deprivation of liberty being imposed on you, without a court order.

How do you get power of attorney in Florida?

Here are the basic steps to make your Florida power of attorney:
  1. Decide which type of power of attorney to make. ...
  2. Decide who you want to be your agent. ...
  3. Decide what authority you want to give your agent. ...
  4. Get a power of attorney form. ...
  5. Complete the form, sign it, and have it notarized or witnessed.
Sep 27, 2021

How do you fight inheritance theft?

You should consider a trust litigation attorney the moment you suspect a brother or sister is stealing your inheritance or assets from the estate. Often a trust attorney can quickly begin communications with the suspected sibling and/or their attorney, and resolve the theft quickly.

What happens if a beneficiary does not claim their inheritance?

If a beneficiary doesn't receive what they're entitled to from the estate, the executor or administrator may be liable to pay this themselves. To help protect against any possible claims, the executor or administrator needs to take all the necessary steps to find the beneficiary before distributing the estate.

What debts are forgiven at death?

What debt is forgiven when you die? Most debts have to be paid through your estate in the event of death. However, federal student loan debts and some private student loan debts may be forgiven if the primary borrower dies.Aug 7, 2021

What rights does a beneficiary have on a bank account?

After your death, the beneficiary has a right to collect any money remaining in your account. They simply need to go to the bank with proper identification and a certified copy of the death certificate. The bank will have a copy of the form you filled out naming them the beneficiary.Mar 3, 2021

Can an executor decide who gets what?

Can an Executor Decide 'Who Gets What'? No, the Executor of your will cannot just decide who gets what. Among other tasks, the executor is primarily responsible for giving away your assets as per the instructions in the will.

Does a will supercede a beneficiary on a banking account?

Does a Beneficiary on a Bank Account Override a Will? Generally speaking, if you designate a beneficiary on a bank account, that overrides a Will. This is in large part due to the fact that beneficiary designations have the ability to (and benefit of) completely avoiding the probate process.

How long can you be in jail for bank fraud?

If you are convicted of bank fraud in federal court, you could face up to 30 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1 million or both. Bank fraud is a federal crime and is prosecuted as such. Other, similar crimes, such as check fraud, for example, may instead be tried in state courts and carry their own penalties.

What is bank fraud?

Bank fraud takes place when an offender knowingly defrauds or tries to defraud a financial institution, or schemes to get money, credit, an asset or other property that is owned by a financial institution under fraudulent pretenses. For example, you can be charged with bank fraud if you intentionally or unintentionally defraud a financial ...

What is accounting fraud?

Accounting fraud occurs if you misrepresent your financial accounts or books, using either falsehoods or a fake identity to secure a loan you would otherwise not qualify for or get approved for. Often, bankruptcy is declared shortly thereafter, the funds from the loan long gone into other avenues.

What is embezzlement law?

Embezzlement, in particular, involves an important statute under federal law that relates to the deceitful disclosure of assets for illegal conversion of funds. This frequently comes in the form of employee theft from financial institutions or the theft of money from a bank by one or more of the bank’s employees.

What are the defenses against embezzlement?

The most common legal defenses used against federal bank fraud or embezzlement charges involve questioning whether the defendant knowingly made false statements with the intent to mislead the victim (s) of the crime and that the victim (s) also relied on this false information to incur a financial loss.

Need help with a Banking & Finance Law matter?

You've come to the right place. Whether you are a bank, bank officer, or company that offers banking services, a banking & finance lawyer can help.

Need an attorney in Miami, Florida?

FindLaw's Lawyer Directory is the largest online directory of attorneys. Browse more than one million listings, covering everything from criminal defense to personal injury to estate planning.

Want to check lawyer discipline?

It is always a good idea to research your lawyer prior to hiring. Every state has a disciplinary organization that monitors attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. By researching lawyer discipline you can:

The Facts Of Columbia Bank v. Turbeville

In Columbia Bank v. Turbeville, grandmother and her son opened five bank accounts with approximately $1.2 million of grandmother’s and son’s money. To assist them in managing the accounts, they added granddaughter as a joint account holder for this purpose.

Florida Joint Bank Account Statute 655.78

The Florida joint bank account statute, section 655.78, provides as follows.

Equitable Subrogation

An equitable subrogation claim places one party into the shoes of another so that the substituting party retains the rights and remedies that would otherwise belong to the original party. The claim is appropriate when five elements are met:

Conversion Claim

When grandmother assigned her claims against granddaughter to the bank, the bank then possessed a conversion claim against granddaughter for the wrongful taking of the funds from the joint account.

Breach of Fiduciary Duty

The bank claimed that granddaughter held a position of trust and confidence with grandmother that included a fiduciary duty not to withdraw or transfer the funds wrongfully. The bank alleged that the granddaughter breached these duties through her actions.

What is client trust account?

The client trust or escrow account is usually just a separate bank account that is opened and maintained by the attorney or firm, and which is dedicated solely to money received from and intended for clients. In some states, attorneys have discretion about whether to deposit client funds in interest-bearing bank accounts, ...

What is the duty of an attorney?

First, the attorney has a duty to keep the client's funds or property secure and separate from the attorney's (and from the firm's) own funds and property. Second, the attorney must notify the client of the receipt of any funds or property intended for the client.

Is the internet secure?

The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties. First, the attorney has a duty to keep the client's funds or property secure and separate from the attorney's (and from the firm's) own funds and property. Second, the attorney must notify the client of the receipt ...

What is the legal claim of an agent who lied?

In some cases, the legal claim may be that the agent lied about circumstances which caused him or her to take action or have the agent take action on his or her behalf that was adverse to his or her interests.

Is elder abuse a felony?

Elder Abuse. Several states have laws related to elder abuse. In some cases, the state includes taking financial advantage of a vulnerable elder in the statute. These may be criminal or civil laws with varying degrees of penalties, sometimes resulting in the possibility of charging a felony against the abuser.

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a written document that gives an agent the legal authority to act for the principal who establishes the power of attorney. This designation is for financial purposes, such as opening a bank account, writing checks, implementing new investments and conducting financial transactions. A power of attorney can give someone the ...

What is legal authority?

This legal authority can be an important planning mechanism that allows someone to make financial decisions and conduct financial transactions in the event that the principal cannot do so for himself or herself whether temporarily or permanently.

Why is it important to act quickly?

It is often important for the individual to act quickly in order to preserve his or her rights and mitigate the potential financial consequences.