Los Angeles Financial Elder Abuse Lawyer
Helping Victims Seek Justice and Recover Fully
No type of abuse is permissible in California. However, some of the most insidious cases are those involving dependent adults. California law prohibits physical abuse, financial abuse, and other harm against an older adult. If you or a loved one has been abused in any way, you have legal rights that must be protected. The abuse can cause a great deal of mental, physical, and financial harm, so if you are aware of exploitation in any manner, please report the matter immediately.
You can increase your chances of taking successful action in your elder abuse case by speaking with elder abuse lawyers like those at our law firm. Your attorney can identify whether financial exploitation, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse is occurring. A skilled financial abuse attorney can gather evidence to give you a strong case against the guilty party. Your legal team can also offer emotional support at this difficult time.
When you need a law firm to back you up in a financial elder abuse case or any other type of abuse involving an elderly person, please call Gomez Law, APC. We’ll provide you with answers and support when it matters most. We’ve handled many cases of elder financial exploitation, and we’ll help protect your loved one’s real or personal property. Call 213-772-6404 to schedule your free consultation with our compassionate, capable legal team.
At Gomez Law, APC, we focus on a range of real estate disputes, including a strong emphasis on the following case types:
- Partitions
Assisting clients in dividing jointly-owned property fairly, whether through negotiation or legal action, to resolve co-ownership disputes. - Quiet Title Actions
Helping clients establish clear ownership of property and resolve conflicting claims, ensuring your title is legally protected. - Real Estate Fraud
Representing clients who have been victims of deceptive practices, including misrepresentation or forgery in real estate transactions.
Along with these cases, we handle additional real estate disputes to safeguard your rights and investments.
What Are Some Common Forms of Elder Abuse?
One of the best ways to prevent financial elder abuse is by understanding what threats senior citizens face when they are dependent on others. Many elderly individuals look to family members and friends to handle their finances when they no longer can or want to deal with paying bills. This dependency can be problematic when someone takes advantage of this level of trust and uses the money for other purposes. However, there are forms of abuse beyond financial abuse that also must be taken into consideration.
Some ways older adults are commonly exploited in California include:
- Financial abuse – When someone in a role of trust takes the person’s money and uses it for personal reasons, this is considered financial abuse and is illegal in California. Also, a housekeeper who steals money or goods from the elderly person may be found guilty of financial elder abuse.
- Physical abuse – Causing physical harm through shoving, spanking, punching, pinching, kicking, or biting an elderly individual is illegal.
- Nursing home negligence – Nursing homes that malnourish, cause physical harm, fail to treat illnesses, or otherwise neglect their patients are guilty of elder abuse.
- Emotional abuse – Causing an elderly victim emotional distress by yelling, demeaning, name-calling, or neglecting them is abusive and can cause a great deal of mental suffering.
- Sexual abuse – Taking advantage of dependent adults by raping, kissing, or making sexual contact without consent is also abusive.
Family members should be aware of signs of abuse, including withdrawal, bed sores, sudden unexplained mood changes, unexplained bruises, or weight loss. If you suspect abuse of a loved one, please talk to a Los Angeles elder abuse attorney right away.
Who Commonly Engages in Los Angeles Elder Abuse?
It can be hard to admit that your loved one may be a victim of elder financial abuse. Sometimes, the perpetrator is obvious. In other cases, it can be challenging to determine who is exploiting the person in the financial elder abuse case. One of the best ways to discover the truth and avoid future financial damage is by hiring financial elder abuse attorneys like at Gomez Law, APC.
The following are some individuals who are possible culprits in the financial exploitation of a dependent adult:
- Family members – Unfortunately, family members are some likely candidates for exercising undue influence or taking advantage of an elderly person’s dependence.
- Financial advisors – Professionals who work in the finance industry may also be guilty of using funds for purposes other than how the individual intended.
- Nursing home staff – Nursing home staff members may engage in emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. They may also be guilty of stealing goods or money from patients in their care.
- Housekeeping staff – Those with access to the person, such as a care custodian, could make wrongful use of their position of trust.
- Nursing home patients – When other patients can access the person’s room or personal property, they may take advantage of this and steal the person’s money or property.
- Scammers – Sadly, many elderly individuals fall victim to lottery scams, identity theft, and other operations that fool them into giving money to scammers.
How Can Your Lawyers Help Me Fight Elder Abuse?
If you think someone has taken advantage of your loved one for financial gain, one of the first things you should do is talk to a lawyer. You can also report the matter to the police, who can assist in the investigation. Your legal team will work tirelessly to find clear and convincing evidence that backs up your story. You can help by collecting financial documents, communication, and documentation of what happened to your elderly loved one.
Some other ways an attorney can help you correct and seek justice for elder abuse include:
- Offering counsel based on a detailed understanding of California law
- Making recommendations based on years of experience fighting elder abuse, including financial abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse
- Identifying ways the elderly victim was scammed, including health insurance fraud, life insurance policy fraud, and fraudulent actions by financial institutions
- Negotiating a fair settlement if possible
- Representing you in state and federal court when necessary
Please don’t make the mistake of thinking your case isn’t important enough to report. You can save yourself and your loved ones years of mental anguish by seeking justice according to the California penal code. Call our Southern California law firm now.
Should You Hire Our Los Angeles Financial Elder Abuse Lawyer?
You can count on our legal team when you need legal professionals to protect you or your elderly loved one. We have helped countless residents avoid physical harm in nursing homes and other locations where their financial and physical welfare is threatened. We can also help you recover from abuse that has already occurred.
Call our law firm for answers and representation when it matters most. You can reach us by dialing 213-772-6404 to schedule your free initial consultation.