Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Florida

I have a 65 yr. cousin who was recently release from prison. Before he went to prison he worked for a shipping company and he had a kiosk at the flee market in Sarasota and won money through the lottery. He gave his daughter Power of Attorney. She depleted his business account and personal account. Bank of America said it was nothing they could do because of the papers. the account was overdrawn and the bank account has unpaid fees. He has no money to start over or get an apartment and his daughter will not answer his calls. While he was in prison she purchased a house for herself. He also gave her a safe to keep for him with his diamond jewelry and $1,000 cash. Everything in the safe is gone. Since she depleted the funds from both accounts, his social security check was directly deposited and he reported to social security that he is incarcerated, but she had spent the money in the account and now social security if coming after him for the return of the money. She altered the Power of Attorney Papers and inserted handwritten language. He is now living in Tallahassee with his brother because he does not have any place to live or money to move. He can't get a job because he has chronic COPD. How, where, when can we get help. I am a paralegal, but don't want to get into trouble of giving my cousin legal advice, but can I advise him to start with getting a police report. He needs an attorney. HELP !!!


Asked on 9/29/17, 1:54 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lucreita Becude Lucreita D. Becude, P.A.

Your cousin needs to hire an attorney. Yes I understand he is broke. Have him speak to one anyway as some attorneys (criminal law) will take him on contingency if there is anything they believe they can get. If they can not, then it will be easily found out and that will determine whether it is worth pursuing. His daughter will probably have to spend time in jail - does he want that? His funds could be retrieved by selling her house since the funds used were probably his.

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Answered on 9/29/17, 2:01 pm


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