State Rep. Mark Gidley (R-Hokes Bluff) is seeking to remove the ability of individuals to receive benefits or inheritance from people they have been convicted of abusing or financially exploiting.
Current law prohibits a person from receiving any benefits under someone's will or intestate succession if they are feloniously responsible for their death. Intestate succession describes when the state distributes assets to the surviving family if no will exists. The prohibition also applies to contracts.
House Bill 66 (HB66) would provide that any individual who is convicted of elder abuse or financial exploitation of an elderly person may not receive any benefits under the abused or exploited individual's will or through intestate succession. It would also cause a person convicted of abuse to lose any property interest in any joint venture held with the abused or exploited individual.
If convicted, a person would not be allowed to collect life insurance, inheritance, property or collect on any contracts made with the person they were convicted of abusing or exploiting.
According to the bill, an individual will be deemed to have abused another if the individual is convicted of elder abuse and neglect in the first or second degree or financial exploitation of an elderly person in the first or second degree.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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