Document Fraud in Financial Elder Abuse Cases
There are many ways in which financial abuse occurs in elder abuse cases. Many of these involve financial documents that have been fraudulently altered. This presentation looks at real case examples of alterations that have been made, giving elder law attorneys the tools they need to evaluate possible fraud when confronted with such a case. Methods of fraud explored include: – Attempts to withdraw funds from bank accounts – Change of beneficiary – Attempts to transfer stock in a corporation – Fraudulent wills – Attempts to take real estate
Document Fraud in Probate Cases
People use different means to commit fraud with documents in probate cases. Examples are when a person fabricates a will leaving all assets to themselves from the decedent. Other examples are when a person writes checks from the decedent’s bank account. There are times when a document is notarized, yet the notarization is fraudulent. There are different ways this can occur. A skilled forensic document examiner can oftentimes discover how the documents have been created and altered to benefit a party who does not deserve benefit from the decedent’s estate. This presentation uses case studies to identify various methods that have been used to attempt to fraudulently take a decedent’s property.
Speaker: Mike Wakshull, Q9 Consulting
Mike Wakshull of Q9 Consulting partners with attorneys to dissect the evidence of alleged fraud and alterations in handwritten and computer-generated questioned documents. Cases include wills, trusts, threatening letters, and contracts. Wakshull applies an objective, verifiable approach (a court requirement) using his scientific training to examine questioned documents. Applying generally-accepted industry practices such as SWGDOC and SAFE standards, he advises clients on the strength of their cases. He engages his well-equipped state of the art laboratory, and large forensic reference library to deliver the best results. Wakshull is skilled at explaining complex evidence with clear exhibits, easy-to-understand language and descriptive pictures. His approach in more than 80 testimonies teaches and involves all the trial, arbitration, and deposition participants – judge, jury and attorneys. He has worked cases from 23 states, two Canadian provinces, Bahrain, Mexico, and Hong Kong. He uses video conferencing to communicate with clients. He has authored several books and speaks regularly on document examination topics at national and international forensics conferences, legal conferences, Bar Associations, and, and many others. He earned a graduate school certificate in forensic document examination from East Tennessee State University.
This presentation is for one hour of Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit for Attorneys and others. If you would like credit, please request the sign-in sheet and evaluation form – Email John Cooper. You must attend during the length of the presentation in order to receive credit.