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Tag: Avoid Probate

Margie O'Brien

Probate Judge Margie O’Brien Steals $432,711

July 31, 2020
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Margie O’Brien, a former probate judge in Atkinson County, Georgia, plead guilty to stealing almost half a million dollars between 2010 and 2017. A grand jury originally indicted O’Brien on 81 counts of theft by taking and two counts racketeering. The Atkinson County Grand Jury handed down a 50+ page indictment; which indicted O’Brien on 81 counts of theft by taking and two counts of racketeering. O’Brien is accused of handling the deposits for the Probate Court herself. She allegedly wrote all of the deposits slips personally and would keep money from each one for herself. She attempted to hide…

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Frederick H Green

Court Appointed Guardian Steals $Thousands from Elderly

July 30, 2020
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Frederick H. Green of Thompson Township, Ohio, and a former probate court-appointed guardian, was charged with three counts of fourth-degree felony grand theft, and one count of third-degree felony perjury. Green pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a personal recognizance bond. Green was appointed as a legal guardian for William Vancura, in May 2017 by Judge Tim Grendell of the Geauge County Probate Court.  In September of 2017, the bar association received a grievance letter against Green.  The letter claimed that Green, in his role as legal guardian, misappropriated $18,400 from Vancura. Michael T. Judy, Chairman…

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Living Trust

Living Trust Lets You Avoid Probate

July 29, 2020
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Having a Living Trusts is other way to avoid probate. Living Trusts are legal documents that, like wills, allow you to detail how you want your property divided and who should care for any minor children. Unlike wills, living trusts take effect while you’re still alive. Once a living trust is created, you must transfer ownership of your property to the trust, which requires changing titles and deeds, to avoid probate. These trusts are revocable — you can change them at any time. You will be the trustee, so you continue to have control over your property, and you’ll name…

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Lawyer Living in Dead Client Home

Lawyer Living in Home of Dead Client

July 28, 2020
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Terry Erwin Stork, a disbarred Austin, Texas, lawyer has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for living in the home of one of his clients who died; and for driving the car of another of his clients. According to lawsuits and arrest affidavits, Stork systematically mismanaged or stole from the three estates worth more than $800,000 over two decades. Stork lived in the home of a deceased client from 1987 to 2002 and deposited money from the sale of the home into his own bank account. Stork pleaded guilty to felony theft charges for stealing from three estates. A…

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Ora Lomax

Wife for 64 Years Denied Guardianship – Stranger in Charge

July 27, 2020
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Ora Lomax did not go to probate court seeking guardianship or conservatorship, because the person, William Lomax, was her husband.  Instead, VCU Health System, where William Lomax had been a patient for just over a month — ever since one of his home aides had called 911 because he was having trouble breathing — had filed a petition with the court to have William declared incapacitated and have a guardian appointed to make decisions for him. You read that correctly.  The hospital stepped-in to gain control of William Lomax, bacause VCU Health System didn’t think Ora should be the guardian,…

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Avoid Probate

Probate Loves Family Fights

July 26, 2020
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While you fight, strangers get control of your money and your family’s inheritance Joyce Marie Johnson, 74, once was a real estate broker who owned multiple properties in the mountain town of Lytle Creek, north of Fontana, as well as in Long Beach and Seal Beach, all in California. Now she sits in an Orange County California board-and-care home, dementia eating away her mind, while a court conservatorship liquidates her real estate and isolates her from family members. Johnson’s problems began after her two daughters disagreed on who should have power of attorney. The family squabble was taken to probate…

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Betty Lou Lamoreaux

No One Is Immune

July 25, 2020
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Retired Judge with Courthouse Named After Her is Exploited by Probate Betty Lou Lamoreaux was a giant on the Orange County California Superior Court bench. Her work with children was so impressive that the county named the seven-story family courthouse  after her — the Lamoreaux Juvenile Justice Center. Duff Lamoreaux McGrath in 2016 outside county courthouse named after his Aunt, Betty Lou Lamoreaux, whose life savings is is in danger of being financially drained, in part by the very justice system to which she dedicated her life. (Courtesy of Duff McGrath)   Lamoreaux, now 94, has Alzheimer’s disease and is…

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