Ancillary Proceedings: When Probate Becomes Complicated
Probate and estate proceedings sometimes involve complex questions beyond just the wishes of your loved one. Secondary or ancillary proceedings may become necessary to address a wide range of issues, including:
- Property located in another state (or property located in New York, if the owner lived in another state)
- Disputes about whether executors, trustees or other fiduciaries are properly upholding their responsibilities
- Stolen or misappropriated estate assets
Recovering Stolen Assets
Sadly, it’s far too common for vulnerable seniors to get taken advantage of. Relatives, friends, caretakers, bookkeepers and others with access to your loved one’s financial affairs may abuse their power — for example, by:
- Pressuring or threatening your loved one into changing his or her will
- Using a power of attorney to transfer or sell assets without your loved one’s knowledge
- Draining your loved one’s bank accounts
- Running up credit cards in your loved one’s name
The full extent of the exploitation may only come to light after your loved one passes away, when you’re struggling to manage the estate and make sense of what happened.
Partner With A Trusted Legal Team
Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with these difficult issues on your own. At Voelkl Law PC, our lawyers can help you pursue accountability. We will work with you to piece together strong evidence of what happened and who was at fault. Drawing on strong trial skills in New York Surrogate’s Court, our lawyers will aggressively pursue justice, using every means available to recover lost assets and make things right again.
To discuss your concerns with one of our attorneys during a consultation, please call our office in Williamsville at 716-276-0803.