Legal And Financial Exploitation Of Our Elders [Paperback]

MA LPC NCC Stephanie Siddall Germack (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2007 | ISBN-10: 1430327626 | ISBN-13: 978-1430327622

The pitfalls of involuntary guardianship can cost you: your civil rights, your life savings, your right to live where and how you wish, yours or your children's inheritance and your familial relationships. You will learn: how to prepare yourself from becoming a target, the tricks, manipulations and strategies used to prematurely institutionalize, and how to help change and improve probate court involuntary guardianship laws. The article, "Rampant Elder Abuse and Fraud in Adult Guardianship" quoted Money Magazine, "Guardianship is all about money . . . the laws (that every state in the nation has passed to control the conduction of a guardianship) are universally ignored . . . if you or a well meaning relative try to fight this system, the court allows the guardian to use your money (the ward's money) to fight you (the ward)". http://probate1.com/website

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com (November 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430327626
• ISBN-13: 978-1430327622
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #797,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Legal and Financial Exploitation, May 3, 2011

By 

Mary Siddall - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legal And Financial Exploitation Of Our Elders (Paperback)

Stephanie has told my story to the letter. I know of Stephanie's efforts to help the elderly and those challenged by dementia avoid the harm that I experienced at the hands of two of my own daughters and nephew. For the duration of the guardianship that was set up against me, I asked over and over how and why some of my own children took what was meaningful to me, my freedom and my right to make my own choices. The guardians that were in charge of my case ignored me. The court did little to stop the guardians and conservators who were in it for money, my money that is. I knew that there was nothing that I could do to change my situation. Once it was in the court, my case was there to stay. And there was nothing that I or anyone could do to change that, even though I know how determined my other daughter and son were to help me. When I repeated myself, my guardians used that to support their claim of incompetence. I knew, always knew and was always aware.

Individuals like Stephanie saw my strenths and encouraged me to speak out. And I did often to an audience that closed their ears to my pleas, especially my guardian who was supposed to be protecting my freedom and the conservator who was supposed to have preserved my estate. The social worker allowed herself to be influenced by my two daughters and lost her impartiality. I had no legal defense. The guardianship robbed me of that too. But that was their premeditated plan: To have me declared incompetent by claiming that I had Alzheimer's disease so that they could gain control and not allow me legal defense. They claimed that they were my advocates when they were the individuals that were stealing from me and robbing me blind. And they were able to convince others. But I knew. I always knew the truth.

Stephanie might not have all the answers, but she and others who have joined to fight guardianship exploitation have the spirit and determination to build awareness of this white collar crime. One of the problems that I know that Stephanie learned since writing her book is that laws are set up to protect guardians. Guardians rob the estates of the elderly and especially those challenged by dementia because they can. There is no one to stop them. The court allows guardians and conservators the freedom to do whatever they please without genuine oversight.

Ideally, a happy ending to my story would have been that the initiators of the guardianship, two of my daughters and my nephew were compelled by the court to repay their attorney fees, to serve prison time, to complete community service, and face fines, and that their attorneys and the social worker who denied me freedom face the same penalities and also lose their licenses to prevent them from harming any others.

But I am patient. God is the final judge and He will bring justice to me, to those who have advocated for me, and to others who have cared for me in His time. Who knows that the outcome that Stephanie anticipated and described in her book will not one day be realized? God is the final judge.

My two daughters, my nephew, their attorneys, and the social worker used the label of Alzheimer's disease against me, exaggerated my symptoms so that they could gain control of my estate. They used lies and deception to win. They wanted to control me and to have power over me and for awhile they appeared to be winning. But their victory is now short-lived.

Trust in the Lord and learn the patience that I have learned. Be at peace. Help build awareness, educate others and especially the courts to recognize the strengths that elderly individuals who are challenged by dementia maintain. Together we can change the laws that will bring about change, and hold accountable those that are driven by greed and selfishness to exploit the elderly.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Legal and Financial Exploitation of Our Elders, March 20, 2010

By 

Marcia L. Howland (Tulsa, OK USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Legal And Financial Exploitation Of Our Elders (Paperback)

Weekly in our mail box all sorts of gimmicks try to pick our pockets. This book is a must read! It is past time for protective awareness, especially for the time we may no longer be aware. People wake up; some smell the coffee; others take the coffee and the coffee maker. What is right about that? As a senior I still work with seniors as an interdisciplinary team member providing spiritual and bereavement care for families. More legal documents are being required to state wishes but it takes an advocate with integrity to carry them out.