NY Attorney General Letitia James recently announced the arrest of a man who is accused of stealing the deed to a 92-year old woman’s home. This theft involved taking advantage of the victim’s diminished mental state, tricking her into signing away her home using forged documents, among other crimes. The arrest highlights the ongoing issue of deed theft, and in particular the ways in which dishonest people will take advantage of the elderly and other vulnerable populations.
According to a recent Gothamist article, it was estimated that around $400 million in homes across New York City are at potential risk of deed theft. This vulnerability is the result of ongoing ownership disputes that make it easier for opportunists to potentially take control of different properties. These issues point to the importance of effective estate planning, as well as ensuring you have experienced legal representation to prevent this from happening to you or someone you love.
“I want to take this time to thank Tanya and Keith for their professionalism and their ability to keep me calm during this process. Tanya was very helpful in explaining the whole guardianship process and my next steps. Despite my numerous emails, I never felt ignored or that they were growing weary of me. Even after being granted guardianship when I had an issue with the bank releasing money Tanya stayed calm and found a way to get what I was entitled to. I hope I never need to do this again but if I do, I will definitely come back to Tanya and her team. Thank you Thank you Thank you. Love from Bermuda.”
-K. Durham. (An attorney in Bermuda transferring a Bermudian guardianship to NY)
