Great trust is placed in those who care for the elderly. In many cases, caregivers are entrusted with a person’s property, and finances and sadly, some caretakers choose to abuse this responsibility. If you believe that your loved one has been exploited by their caregiver or guardian, the Chicago elder abuse lawyers at Peck Ritchey, LLC, can help you bring legal action against the responsible party.

It is a tragedy when elders who have worked hard their entire life, and who have achieved so much in order to enjoy their old age, get taken advantage of. Their bank accounts can be drained instantly because they trusted their caretaker. We understand how deeply troubling it can be when a Chicago-area caregiver takes advantage of the individuals they are meant to care for and we are dedicated to holding such individuals accountable for their actions.

The National Center of Elder Abuse estimates that around $2.9 billion is lost annually because of elder abuse. If you suspect that your loved one is being financially exploited, it is important to contact an attorney at Peck Ritchey, LLC to end the abuse and get the protection your loved one deserves. Our trusted and compassionate lawyers put the interests of our clients first. We want to help right the wrongs that have been committed against your loved one, and we will not rest until we have done everything in our power to help you. It is a misstatement of justice to not hold the wrongful parties accountable. Contact Peck Ritchey, LLC today at (855) 328-5787.

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    Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

    The exploitation of a senior is a complicated issue. It may involve more than just illegally or improperly using an elder person’s assets. It can also encompass deception, negligence, and a breach of fiduciary duty. With so many factors at play in this situation, it is difficult to handle it without an attorney. Often, when people are faced with an elder abuse case, they first reach out to a lawyer to seek accountability for the abuser and preventive protection for the senior.

    An experienced lawyer can help ensure this never happens again. An attorney will do more than just stop the current abuse the elder is facing. Through counseling, strategizing, and planning an estate, you can rest easy knowing your loved one won’t be taken advantage of again. Without a lawyer, it may be possible to stop the current abuse; but preventing future financial exploitation may be a bigger challenge than you can face on your own.

    It is, of course, cheaper to handle this on your own than it is to seek out these services. Dealing with an elder abuse case is a very involved process. But your elderly loved one may be at risk of losing a lot more than the cost of these services. You don’t want to risk any more loss. Your loved one has suffered enough, and you need a trusted attorney to get your family the protection it deserves. The legal team at Peck Ritchey, LLC is dedicated to helping families like yours. We want to provide you with the proper safeguards to prevent further exploitation.

    Why Choose Peck Ritchey, LLC?

    There are dozens of firms in Chicago to choose from to help you with your case. However, elder abuse cases are sensitive. You need a lawyer you can trust. You need a firm that is dedicated to serving the community and compassionate toward their clients. You need legal counsel that has the expertise, knowledge, and resources to protect you and your family from any elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. You need Peck Ritchey, LLC.

    Our dedicated legal team has been assisting families and their loved ones for over a 100 years. We understand the cruelty of your elder abuse situation, and we want to provide you with the best service possible in order to begin remedying the injustices your loved one has suffered. It’s our attorneys that make Peck Ritchey, LLC successful. One of the firm’s partners, Kerry Peck, who served as the president of the Chicago Bar Association, also received the Justice John Paul Stevens Award—it is the Chicago Bar Association’s highest honor. Our attorneys have consistently been named among Super Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40, and Leading Lawyers in Illinois. We are the people you can trust with your loved one’s situation.

    Cases of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Financial Exploitation We Cover

    By bringing legal action against an exploitative caretaker, you ensure that your elderly loved one is protected from further abuse. The Chicago elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation lawyers at Peck Ritchey, LLC, are prepared to pursue cases involving:

    Under any circumstance, the exploitation of the elderly is unacceptable, which is why our skilled Chicago elder exploitation lawyers at Peck Ritchey, LLC, are dedicated to helping you and your family pursue justice.

    Common Methods of Elder Financial Exploitation

    Those who exploit elders for their money are not just limited to strangers. It can be a friend, family member, and even a caretaker. It is important to be aware of common ways that elders are scammed so that you can be on the lookout and prevent any further financial loss. Some common tactics used to con the elderly include the following:

    • Fake telemarketing calls: Government agencies, such as the IRS, will never ask you for immediate payment over the phone.
    • Fraudulent injury: Sometimes scammers will pretend to be law enforcement and inform the senior that a family member has been harmed. They will then demand payment for medical expenses.
    • Selling fake products: Abusers will offer to sell seniors a product, which is placed inside a box, at a price they can’t refuse. However, the product inside the box is not the product that the senior thought they were buying.
    • Undue influence: Other abusers will manipulate the elders into believing that having too much money is a burden, or that they would be better off without their assets.
    • False prizes: In this popular scam, seniors are told they have just won the lottery from another country, and in order to receive the prize, they must wire the scammer funds for the customs costs.

    Signs of Elder Financial Abuse

    Since abusers can range from caretakers, to family, to complete strangers, it is worth noting the signs of elder financial exploitation. Your loved one may not be able to recognize the abuse they are suffering, but being informed can help you look out for them:

    • Large withdrawals from bank accounts
    • Unpaid bills
    • Missing assets and property
    • Being alone more often
    • Significant changes in important legal documents
    • A person who has suddenly struck up a close relationship
    • Lack of personal care

    Those looking to abuse the elderly look for individuals who are vulnerable. The most susceptible people are ones who are mentally or physically disabled, isolated, or recently widowed. If this describes your loved one, please be vigilant on their behalf.

    Defensive Power of Attorney

    The use of power of attorney as a defense can be a helpful strategy to prevent elder financial exploitation. Essentially, this plan allows the elder to authorize another person (who they can choose) to manage their assets on the elder’s behalf. This power can be revoked at any time. It is a simple and easy way to protect your loved one.

    However, because of its simplicity, the power of attorney can easily be abused. To ensure total lack of abuse, an elder should undergo counseling by a probate attorney about their assets in order to better protect them. To further safeguard a senior from the abuse of the power of attorney, they should draft a formal document that includes any worries the elder may have. With an attorney’s assistant, the lawyer can also include protections for the senior that they may not have thought of. Another way of preventing abuse is to have co-agents on the power of attorney.

    Chicago Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Financial Exploitation Lawyers

    At Peck Ritchey, LLC, our Chicago elder neglect lawyers are committed to protecting the rights of Chicago’s elderly population and we will aggressively pursue actin against those who exploit the elderly in Chicago. To discuss the particulars of your circumstances with one of our experienced attorneys, please call (855) 328-5787 today.

    Testimonials>

    Tim and his staff was very helpful with my estate planning. I appreciated his thorough nature. I would recommend Peck Ritchey to others looking for estate planning.

    –M.S.

    My experience was flawless and very professional. Would highly recommend.

    –-N.S.

    I worked with Jesse Footlik and he was great! He was so easy to work with, explained our options clearly, and had true heart for the matter. I could tell he cares about the people he works with, and searches for solutions that will fit best with their circumstances.

    –L.K.

    Tim and his team exude professionalism, timeliness, and have a unique dedication to client needs. It is a pleasure working with them. For estate planning, succession planning, or just a general factfinding conversation about what they may be able to do for you, there is no one better in the area.

    –S.H.

    Kerry Peck with Kyle Fahey did outstanding work helping settle a difficult, complicated, contentious and sensitive personal matter. They were available by phone, email and text at all times during the day, night and weekend to quickly resolve the matter with the best outcome possible for their client. Thank you!

    –S.S.

    I cannot say enough wonderful things about this firm. The professionalism, knowledge, skills, attention to details, and constant updates were above my expectations. And the bonus was having a better outcome than I could have imagined. Jesse & Nick managed an emotional and difficult situation with care and respect. They are a top-notch team with excellent customer service and have very fair and reasonable prices. I would not hesitate to use this firm for any of your needs.

    –Debbie M.

    Peck Ritchey did an excellent job of resolving a very difficult estate matter.

    –Scott S., Barrington Hills, IL

    Thank you so much for your consistent attention to our case this past year. We were fairly small potatoes, yet you actually ‘got back’ and stayed on it. There were times when the government seemed to drop the ball more than my little league outfield, but my attorney was there. I realize that you actually went beyond the scope; I truly do appreciate your work.

    –Kirt G., Chicago, IL

    My family is so grateful for the positive outcome in my mother’s guardianship trial that had divided our family. Tim Ritchey and the Peck Ritchey team were very professional and thorough in stepping up in an emergency situation and preparing for trial. Peck Ritchey provided us with the peace of mind that my mother will be cared for throughout the rest of her life.

    –Kevin G. Chicago, IL

    Peck Ritchey both represents us defending our funding decisions, but also represents the best in leadership and support for issues that can change the quality of life of older persons. We are grateful that we are represented by a group of thoughtful and skilled experts on the law, and great colleagues in making the law work for our older clientele.

    –Jon L., Oak Park, IL

    I was Legal Guardian and Executor for mother who had passed away 12 years ago. There were two wills. One my mom wrote and another an aunt forced her to change while she had dementia. My former attorney advised me to pay the surety bond for all these years. He lost the original will and the file and closed down his office. My brother who was on SSI was still living in my mother’s apartment, and the estate was left to my mother’s four children. One sister wanted us to buy her out. She was impossible. Peck Ritchey worked with sister’s attorney, helped my brother and closed the estate with all its complications in a few months. We were all concerned that this would turn into a legal mess but they were true professionals, kind, caring and answered all our questions. This the law firm you want on your side. I highly recommend them regarding estates, legal guardianships and drawing up wills.

    –Ellie W., Chicago, IL
    Accolades to Peck Ritchey (in particular, Ron Webb), for handling our estate issues professionally and expediently. We connected after attending a very informative presentation on estate planning, offered to retired educators. Everything was explained thoroughly, encouraging us to seek Ron Webb’s assistance and expertise. Thank you for a valuable experience and for giving us peace of mind for the future.
    –Myrna B., Palos Heights, IL

    Peck Ritchey was there with great advice when my family most needed it the most. They got my daughter’s guardianship done on time, and referred us to an expert social worker so we could get her cases through the complicated government systems. The social worker found that the trust put together by others were not in order. Peck Ritchey made new trust documents or amended existing trusts as needed and improved other existing documents. What I appreciate most is they explained it in plain English so I could understand what had to be and what has been done. I am grateful for everything they did and how they did it!

    –Victor O., Chicago, IL

    Very professional handling of my mother’s estate. Ron was there every step of the way and so were his paralegals I might add – from coming to Rush University when my mom was too sick to come to the office, and taking my phone calls, and always answering my questions, I can’t thank him enough! I am truly grateful for the wonderful experience with Peck Ritchey especially since it is already stressful enough when a loved one is ill. Thank you so much! We will be using your firm for our own estate planning in the very near future, I would definitely recommend Peck Ritchey.

    –Brenda S., Crystal Lake, IL

    Thank you so much for all of your work and time you spent in facilitating the purchase of our first home. I know we provided you with a short deadline and we appreciate both of you making it happen. The Escrow Officer commented on how seamless everything was for our close. We are extremely grateful for all of your effort. Thank you again!

    –Steve T and Anna C

    Kerry Peck and Jesse Footlik represented me in an extremely complex and litigious trust dispute involving numerous parties. After several years of litigation, the case was settled with a very successful outcome.

    Kerry and his team of diligent attorneys help develop creative and detailed strategies that proved to be an excellent solution and produced the results I was hoping to achieve. During the duration of the lawsuit, communication with the attorneys was timely and thorough. Their passion and attention to detail was genuine and unwavering during the entire ordeal. I was very fortunate to have the Peck Ritchey team for representation and it was a great experience working with them. Knowing that the stakes were extremely high in the trust dispute Peck Ritchey, LLC was the right firm to handle a litigious case of this magnitude.

    –Harvey C, Chicago

    If you want a great experience with your estate planning needs, then you owe it to yourself to visit with Ron Webb at Peck Ritchey.

    He explained all the intricacies of optimizing our estate planning needs in a knowledgeable and very friendly manner. It was truly a pleasure working with him and the staff at Peck Ritchey. We highly recommend their services.

    –Larry and Judy F., Crystal Lake, IL

    We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Kerry Peck and Jesse Footlik for the professional and courteous manner in which Peck Richtey have assisted us during the past couple years. You will never know how much it meant to us.

    –Kathy S from Champaign

    I was referred to Peck Ritchey by a former judge after he heard the problems I was having in my case with my first attorney. Kerry Peck and Tim Ritchey are experienced and professional litigators who helped turn my case around for me. I wish I would have gone to them first. They helped me in a contested will and trust matter and were exceptional. I would recommend them highly for any estate, will, or trust matter!

    –J.F., Chicago

    We were extremely impressed with Peck Ritchey’s representation of us in complex litigation involving contested deeds, powers of attorney, and hundreds of acres of family farmland. Kerry Peck and Jesse Footlik were steadfast in their commitment to winning our case, which ultimately resulted in a tremendous settlement for us. Although our case was located in “downstate” Illinois, Kerry and Jesse’s timely and thorough communication made us feel like their office was right next door. We could not be more pleased with their services and the outcome of our case.

    –K.S and K.S., Edgar County, IL

    When my Mom passed, I discovered that a family member had changed Mom’s will after she had dementia. For almost two years, I worked closely with Tim Ritchey and Kyle Fahey. They presented such a compelling case and clearly had no fear of taking it to trial, that the opposing counsel caved on the day of trial. With his outstanding negotiating skills, Tim was able to balance just the right amount of pressure, patience, and professionalism to give us a substantial advantage at the settlement table. In addition to the huge settlement we won, I am so grateful to Kyle and Tim for their thoughtful, compassionate and dedicated approach to such a sad family conflict.

    –S.W.

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