Inheritance hijacking occurs regularly and can happen to anyone. This offense refers to situations in which someone steals your inheritance and can be especially devastating when you are in the process of grieving a loved one who recently passed away. However, with the help of a premier trust or probate litigation firm, you can recover the inheritance that was stolen from you. With a seasoned attorney by your side, you can rest assured that your case is in expert hands so you can focus on what matters most – securing your financial future and moving on.
“When someone steals your inheritance, they are stealing more than just a dollar amount – they are stealing the legacy your loved one left behind and your future financial security,” said Nicholas D. Porrazzo, a Partner at Gokal Law Group who is an expert in trust and probate litigation. He was named a Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Star 2024 for his passion for delivering the best service to families during sensitive times and leaving no stone unturned.
What is Inheritance Hijacking?
Inheritance hijacking, or inheritance theft, refers to a situation when a person steals assets from an estate intended to be left to another party.
Inheritance hijacking can take many different forms, such as:
- Someone exerting undue influence over a person and convincing them to name them an heir.
- Someone forging documents to change the nature of a will or trust.
- Someone emotionally manipulating a person to receive a larger portion of their estate, which can include bad-mouthing and casting aspersions on relatives to receive a larger share.
- Someone taking undocumented loans and later claiming that they were gifts.
- Someone stealing physical items from a decedent’s home before or after death.
- A marriage made under false pretenses to allow someone to financially benefit from the decedent’s passing.
- Someone abusing a power of attorney authority to misuse or steal the decedent’s assets.
- Someone hiding assets from the estate to prevent the distribution to rightful beneficiaries.
Is Inheritance Hijacking a Crime?
Inheritance hijacking is a crime, and victims of this crime can seek extensive damages when this crime occurs. People who commit this crime risk being disinherited and could even be responsible for your attorney’s fees and additional costs if litigation ensues.
Depending on the amount they steal, inheritance hijacking could even be a felony. In California, stealing becomes a felony when the value stolen exceeds $950.
Related Article: Can a Trustee Go to Jail for Stealing from a Trust?
What Are Signs of Inheritance Hijacking?
If you are wondering if you are dealing with a case of inheritance hijacking, some signs include:
- Suspicious changes in the will or trust: If you learn the deceased made changes in their will or trust in the last days without informing anyone, this could signal someone took advantage of them, especially if they were ill or lacked the mental capacity to make these changes.
- No documentation: The executor or trustee must document everything about how they administer and manage the estate or trust. If you find gaps in record-keeping or sense a general lack of capacity, it’s time to ask some questions.
- Different versions of the will or trust: If multiple copies of the will or trust exist with conflicting instructions, this could indicate tampering or forgery.
- Surprise debts: If you suddenly find out the deceased owed money to people you’ve never heard of, this could be a red flag. These debts could be a way to siphon money from the estate.
Ultimately, there are countless red flags that signal that you might have been conned out of your inheritance by a bad actor. Suspicious new friends in the decedent’s life before they passed away or the mysterious disappearance of valuables are also red flags.
What Should You Do if You Suspect Inheritance Hijacking?
As soon as you suspect that inheritance hijacking has occurred, it’s crucial to contact a trust or probate litigation attorney. They will investigate the theft, file legal claims on your behalf, negotiate settlements if possible, and, if necessary, represent you in court.
Contacting a lawyer is essential to enforcing your rights. By hiring a lawyer, you substantially increase your chances of recovering your stolen inheritance and holding the bad actors accountable.
Related Article: How Gokal Law Groups Helps Clients Succeed in Litigation
Have you Fallen Victim to Inheritance Hijacking? We Can Help.
At Gokal Law Group, we are committed to protecting the rights of our clients and ensuring that their assets are distributed according to their wishes so that they get the inheritance they deserve. Our experienced attorneys can help you navigate complex legal issues, including litigation when inheritance hijacking occurs. We will fight to protect your interests and hold guilty parties accountable. Don’t let the legacy of your loved one and your financial security be stolen.
Schedule a consultation today to take back the inheritance you’re entitled to.
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16 Responses
my husb passed inherited from grandm. Before she passed she fired tiff. my husb sister and removed her from bank accounts as signor. She also agreed not to ever work there or be around the building. As soon as my husband passed she took over and trustee didnt say anything because she was working with her all along doing things behind my husbands back stealing money. I have the agreement which she signed. There has not been a trustee since his grandmother passed. When my husband passed she and sister took over she has lots of hate towards me. Will not give me any information she basically cuts us off. Removing us from health insurance and only keep a son that my husband was lied to in his previous marriage.
She does not want to give me informationion on my sons money in trust which the agreement states parents are in control of monies. She didn’t give the life insurance most recent info. She is signing checks and making distributions and excusing us which no one else is his heirs.
Lots more
My mom died and left me a small inheritance with it I bought a truck for 900.00 that I found out later the truck was stolen.I ONLY have his name and signature on Bill of sales.
Family group fraudulent stoled inheritance fraudulent marriage certificate credit card wills documents identity theft and property, more court proceedings unaware of proceedings and more want to appeal ASAP mother Jeanine matilton and step father Clyde matilton jr are stealing my identity and inheritance my name is Christina Carpenter and I want to utilize your services
My identity was being used by ex husbands girlfriend who is now trying to work as an agent. How can she if she messed up my credit impersonated me in a California divorce with lies.
Joamn shimota, Alex, ,Arvin and Joan sigmundik, ,Marty tambornino, Wendy Modrynski, Amy, John, Sophie and Dillon DuPont , Robert weinman, jóhn, Jan, John grose Jr all hackers, inheritence hackers and steal every dime around the world with quite a few aliases. Stealing native America benefits, vets benefits, hacking every casino, stealing hand pays, rooting slots, stealing pensions, stocks, bonds, homes, hedges, bonds, have identity making machines, stealing land, beneficiary ownership without any one figuriñg it out. it out
I just want someone to ;listen and fight for this crime. Joann Shimota is stealing our family inheritance with the assistance of James hereford, Marty tambornino , the st johns breast center group.
I am a victim of my relatives , who hijacked my inheritance forged a quiet title on what is / was a living trust that was a 15 year endeavor between my grandmother and I. My older relatives are discussing horrible people and I lost everything I owned my children and no safety escaping a husband who was extremely violent t and murderous who chewed thru my grandmother’s money like my mother did as wel.. I’ve been abandoned to the streets from being a dedicated fami,y mem er close relative and best friend to my maternal grandmother and they forged her name and sold my home for a ridiculous price u Der the value by selling g off the easement. I want my home back damages and them to sink into loud disgrace and do time in prison for what they did to her and myself and my children. I have all original documents to purchase of my home 6 years before her passing and I have gifting letters in her hand writing and statements from local utility company ect. Curre try heirs to the shiesty purchaser who knew there was a cloud on title . The house is in a trust under a changed address that is for the sewer line. Y relatives held no right to attach themselves in my house business and mess with my estate which was established in 2004. . The current occupants are late on the county tax and, there is a lean on my house and they are letting it go to ruin. I have tried to gain info and support after all these years but they took everything I had and everything g I was suppose to have destroyed my family and cut me out of their lives for reasons of guilt and penalty and for some deep seated Haye I can’t u derstand. It may e that I am my aunts child and my mother was forced to take me on as my father and her may have had intimacy .
They are all very well off and even kept my belo wings from our fami,y home we shared and threw out or kept my children’s things. My mother HATES ME . Narscistic bitch
I am currently seeking legal representation for an active probate case in California Probate Court (Riverside County – Palm Springs division). The presiding judge has recently advised me to obtain legal counsel, expressing concern about my continued self-representation.
I initially represented myself after my former attorneys withdrew from the case when I declined to settle privately. However, I am committed to resolving this matter transparently and through the proper court process.
I am the sole heir to the estate. The decedent’s will is legally valid—properly signed, notarized, and witnessed—and names me as the executor. The business at issue was solely in the decedent’s name, and the California Secretary of State has confirmed that ownership of the business has transferred entirely to me as part of the estate.
Despite these facts, a former associate of the decedent is aggressively contesting the estate. He has filed a fraudulent creditor claim and petitioned to be appointed as administrator, in direct opposition to the terms of the will. He has also broken into the decedent’s commercial property, removed equipment, and sold estate assets without authorization. I have filed a police report documenting this theft.
Additionally, while acting as a purported creditor in the probate matter, he has initiated a separate civil action in San Bernardino County—a different jurisdiction from where probate proceedings are being held (Palm Springs). I am concerned that these actions are intended to pressure me into an unjust settlement and to exploit the court system.
I urgently need a qualified probate attorney who can step in, review the case, and advocate for my rights and the proper administration of the estate. I have compiled all pertinent documentation and am prepared to move forward as quickly as possible.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter with you further.
Sincerely,Brandi Booth
My spouse died of April 13,2018,We inherited his mother home upon her death on November 24,2016,but her youngest son waited in September 2017,to give my spouse(his brother) the will to the property and took my spouse to probate court to start the process of the estate in his name,after my spouse died and buried (the brother took me to probate court,to finish the remaining probate the Will,but later took me back to probate to recanted and took back the property claiming since the home had a fallen down roof and rains comes inside,he can get it fixed,so the court gave extra amount of time to move,so the property can be fixed,I tried to reach the court on the matter of the property and no pne was ever reachable on nothing!
I think this might be happening with in my family
My aunt left me the most money and my brother want having it so they pulled me from the trust.
Over$3,500,000
Inherited highjack only 1 daughter ex. Of will no p.o.a. estatelawyer best friends 51 years with dad n bookeeper who died 3 years after dad he was not married tho very close to my mother statue passed but did not till a month ago know about stocks labs bonds trust property all through state all mortgages fraud all flipping in a llc I only daughter also inherited llc mom hired 4 lawyers a forensic accountant all involved it’s only me n mom town wanted to gag for 15 thousand refused new mayor said can’t sue the whole boro hall n bank wells fargovwas involved dad had over 30 acc. All through states in llc same day I had a concussion lawyer called on phone saying your dad said his nephew can have it he is 36 n always was broke I said ok knowing nothing never explained dad n mom kept me very sheltered dad was best friends lawyers xvmayors all who robbed him im sick 8 years mom has n knows all I didn’t even know how to write a check no knowledge of law wells fargo took my name off safty box that was with dad I never knew until I went to bank no p.o.a. he only wanted me as ex. No justice estate lawyer also town lawyer for f.h. a. Loans all acc. Under dad name all 4 lawyers said keep only house left in estate can’t get anyone all took a piece he was sick 10 years but still on go until 2 years before he died bookeeper died 3 years after dad n her son inlaw n her sister all high tech dad didn’t even own a phone bookeeper draw up all fraud over internet loans 1 house 1 had to sell 580 thousand I made only 40 someone took a loan out when he was in a nursing home remix son bought it f.h.a. n resold year laterb980 thousand mom has all documented pictures she changedvlocks on homesvin area 2 weeks after he went in hospital estate lawyer even took 40 thousand of ex. Fee mom has paper bookeeper n her daughter shredded all n all mail went to p.o. boxes all through state she also had 2014 a boyfriend both invested million n said on paper lived as husband n wife dad was still alive he died 2016 owned labs condons inventions securities bonds bars of gold even accountant was involved lawyer gave old will from 2006 2007 dad changedvit told mom n me I didn’t take will that he screamed for me in a black box I took key tho im now 52 me n mom didn’t understand aklll about stocks he belonged to a union all dues payed estate lawyer betrayed paper work got messy mom was threaten cops were involved in the institutions bookkeeper had 1 daughtervtook all n filed bankruptcy yet owns alot there all rich dad also had homes in a bundle llc rental even old will im ex n saying any reinvestment my daughter has to get her share money stolen n alot transfers through states n all documents with a stamped seal nothing wrote on them n life insurance hevtold me 1 mom found out 4 people used his credit to buy n flip I was told go to f.b.i but a officer was involved my mother uncle a captain in Hoboken n.j my cousin a captain now rich n retired I was brought up to respect officers another issue I was beaten to almost death in wells fargo cause I didn’t want to leave manger said couldn’t find keys to safty mom found out officer had 4 excessive 4 different towns judge gave him 4th degree probably but I was scared I dropped charges I forgive him when mom came to hospital I had neck brace black eye injuries back neck mom took pictures with date band all because I said maybe God did this to stop him maybe he had p t s which I was highly diagnosed n so much more can u help me no lawyer wants to srmtep on toes im very sick n mom list of dad n our future a small house I sold dadvlivedv2 minutes from me n mom bookeeper stopped paying all mortgages n taxes I had were being discriminate they even took few inches our land mom has ORGINAL prints last officer ivdontvwant involved his aunt worked for bergen County prosecutors year before he put kids in hospital town covered up kid sued n moved officer same town as us why do lawyers become lawyers not to fight 4 of our lawyers wrote letters to wellsvfargo for video I was cuffed on floor screaming im 5 3 he’s 6 ft. Kicking me I have video on phone someone took built whyyyy no lawyer surreal for video also mom has letter from civil lawyer saying looks like video cam edit same lawyer who took llc 973 2199060
I need someone who is not going to make the same mistake as everyone else has made my whole life was stolen and my face by people pretending to be my family I found out it’s a professional identity theft ring and nobody else has been able to prove anything but I am able to do so they have someone using my identity and my government social security number and moved me to a lot of places to get my life and my assets I wasn’t married to anybody named Joseph de Santiago but there is a divorce case in Fresno ca I wasn’t in the country at the time and they signed everything I own to the other person which was a stolen identity my information and my kids and baby’s dad’s were stolen from a database in Colorado child support was storing it there a Manuel Marquez worked there and after the veterans data department probably to take or change my father’s information I have a lot of proof evidence that nobody else could find about them I want everything back I’m stalked and they go to my work and indirectly threaten me and I’m done with it I didn’t sign my power of attorney to anyone at all either the police department former chief Jose Marquez using my original birth name I went to school with him I would call but my phone gets redirected to people they have pretending to be whoever I am calling in 2007 there was a court date for a divorce the judge was Katherine Lucero and the person that was pretending to be my husband was told that he had to give everything back to me because my husband signed a contract giving up any claim to my assets and inheritance isn’t community property a person with a similar name to my actual husband Louis j. Rodriguez graduated from Stanford university for accounting and is so much older than me and was in prison in 1993 for fraud embezzlement seems he was under the assumption he married me and was transferring my properties and other things to his name and going through a divorce that finished in 1993 from prison which he gave his wife Shirley a house he stole from me I know he is the person doing this because he keeps having people offer me a house saying he is not giving me anything back and trying to transfer it to other people’s names being a paralegal in Sunnyvale and having my property in San Bernardino which his wife lives at has a daughter with my first name and my married last name of Rodriguez I know they have crooked and shady lawyers one of which is Jefferson Louis can villa who pretends to be his brother my ex from 8th grade if you don’t want the case it’s fine I expect they will contact and threaten you since they are connected to my phone however I will win like I did in court every time legally I didn’t give them any permission to go into my accounts and they tried suing me divorce with a fraudulent signature I have my husband’s signature he was my age and declaring me dead was thrown out of court and tried a incompetent hearing that was also thrown out and then used someone else to adopt me to get access to my assets she gets them and gives it to him so he could say he didn’t take it it doesn’t belong to anyone but me and they know so they harass me lying to everyone saying I stole from them I don’t have anything at all can’t leave here go to a embassy or some of my actual friends will be charged with them look into it Marquez brothers international they filed bankruptcy using my name Regina Rodriguez (married name I haven’t gotten around to changing back to Marquez) and the signature is Sylvia Perez at the bottom after that her name was on my Marquez brothers international company
I’m dealing with everything you mentioned above… To a tee. Only my original birth records were stolen destroyed when I was born. I recently due to a false arrest and after doing a lot of time in jail for no reason found out I was adopted by grandmother and aunt in 1986 she passed in 1991 and my aunt in 2022. I was in jail had to plan her funeral from in jail I was her heir as well and listed as sole executor of her estate but was not notified. Was told I needed a power of attorney whom also was paid to hide truths. My grandfather in 1992 was in orphans court given guardianship of my inheritance and was murdered shortly afterwards. My adoption was kept hidden from me my properties stolen my bank accounts stolen. My federal income taxes stolen, my drivers license stolen, as well as theirs to take sell, auction off my inheritance, thrown in jail under false pretenses, my kids taken with out my knowledge, I was never in the hearing I was being kept in jail getting repeated evals that I passed. My United States postal carrier and reputation ruined. My life in shambles. Local police messed up so bad they refuse to even look at facts but dmv and other agencies like fbi orphans court etc records prove my claims and lead to full pardon and aquittal of charges in two separate states. Multi million dollar estate stolen local corrupt officials and federal officials as well paid to throw close investigations with my stolen inheritance after final aquital in wv I was told I need estate litigation attorney that handles multi state cases of estate litigation, inheritance hijacking, identity theft, adoptions, etc after hiding fact I was only heir and adopted by my grandmother and her sister in law. That my adoption and being only heir was reason my grandfather was murdered over multi million dollar inheritance that stretch over numerous states. After 39 years of hiding my true identity a false arrest and imprisonment lead to my new knowledge of my tragic life and that greed and jealousy lead to my now new knowledge of where I come from. And I need help getting my adoption records and I got original deeds to prove it as well as proof of identity theft by ones who claimed to love me and my kids but was only out to destroy us. To hide their monsterous truth. SO…
I NEED MULTI STATE ESTATE LITIGATION / ALL THE ABOVE ATTORNEY…
May be beyond statute of limitations in Arkansas.
July 1984, my grandfather left me a CD with about $30,000 in Union Planters Bank of Forrest City, AR and about 40 acres in Palestine, AR ( St Francis County).
My parents took everything.
Even though they’re in the 80s, they are very financially well off.
Do I have a case after 41 years?
When I first registered with Citibank they never gave me my reward they kept it I did a CD with Citibank but then the 6 months I put $500 down and what I got back in return of the end of the 6 months was $511 this City Bank was located on church and Flatbush the manager that worked the deal she had retired and also put a family member to cover her place cuz she retired and she showed her all the ropes and then they started scamming me every time I apply for credit they keep it through my check and they keep it so this is a big scam that they are doing is called fraud and stealing I went to Atlantic terminal and Brooklyn downtown Brooklyn on Atlantic avenue but they’re not terminal they have a Citibank branch and I did a registered and filled out a application with them to receive credit they demand told me and they was James it was one of the representative stated for me to give them $200,000 down payment and I will receive the credit card and he stated that I’ve been approved so that he didn’t give me the credit card they didn’t send it to me or anything and it kept my $200 okay and they’ve been doing scam because they know that I have an inheritance that was left for me and they wanted to take it and still and try to you credit a down payment deposit of $200 so I can receive the 2500 credit and also I had register and apply for IRA, and heritage that was left for me this scamming you know even social security, illegally banned me from the social security say it’s just a short within the New York state coverage area now the state capital of legislative Empire Albany has been up under investigation for fraud bribeing, corruptions and within the five boroughs of the Brooklyn Kings county area the district courts judges has been sentenced to prison for bribing corruptions fraud identity
Theft so this is what I’m going through identity theft, my name has changed when I was a little girl I’m just now learning and observing the the gang Targeting stalkering the police officers had created gang targeting,