Financial Exploitation
Financial exploitation involves taking the money or assets of a vulnerable adult without the authority to do so, or by deceptive or similar means. The exploiter may be an attorney-in-fact, family member, another individual, or a company. Minnesota has both criminal and civil law that applies to financial exploitation. The civil law is based on Minnesota Statutes 626.557, subdivision 20, and other common law claims.
Suzanne’s goal is to help the vulnerable adults keep the assets they have worked hard to collect for their own needs, not as a blank check for others. While mediation may work to recover assets in some situations, other cases of financial exploitation must be brought before the court to recover assets and to hopefully reduce such exploitation in the future. If you believe that you have been the victim of financial exploitation, please contact Suzy Scheller.