The Expert Podcast

• Family law fraud cases—especially estate fraud or inheritance theft—are becoming more common.
• These cases often begin when someone in the family dies and assets need to be distributed.
• A family member may decide to secretly take more than their fair share.
• The estate settlement process can be less transparent than expected, making it easier for theft to occur unnoticed.
• Common tactics include writing checks, transferring property, or closing out accounts—actions that leave a paper trail.
• Example case: A listener says, “My brother divvied up our dad's estate, but I just found something very off. This can’t be right.”
• Digging deeper into estate cases often reveals evidence of fraud.
• Methods of theft include:
  • Writing unauthorized checks
  • Taking life insurance proceeds
  • Transferring real estate or vehicles into their own name
• These actions can still be discovered after the fact and reversed.
• Penalties and legal consequences are possible for those who commit estate fraud.
• It's critical to:
  • Get a full accounting of the deceased’s financial assets
  • Conduct a proper asset search
  • Audit for any fraudulent conveyance (money or property sent to the wrong person)
• Executors of estates must follow the will and legal guidelines, or they may be held liable.
• Co-executors may complicate matters when disagreements arise.
• Listeners are encouraged to explore related videos and resources for more support and guidance.