Call: 805-564-2333
The Law Offices of Michael P. Ring and Associates, Attorneys at Law

Call: 805-564-2333

Helping People Get The Legal Care They NeedFor More Than 40 Years

The Physical And Financial Pains Of Elder Abuse

At Michael P. Ring & Associates, we are proud to lend our knowledge and courtroom experience to matters of elder abuse. Specifically, we bring lawsuits against individuals and organizations who take advantage of seniors and their finances.

The California Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act of 1991 (EADACPA) protects people over 65 from fraud and is the foundation for much of our elder abuse work. Our work in this area is broad, but many cases have involved:

  • Securities law: As we mentioned in our securities law page, we represent seniors who believe that their losses are due to securities fraud or other mistreatment of their investments.
  • Financial disputes with nursing homes: We focus specifically on assisting seniors whose nursing homes or other long-term care facilities have taken advantage of them and robbed them of their money. Our attorney deals with financial damages, and not physical damages, such as matters of neglect or medical malpractice. But we will gladly direct clients to lawyers who do work in that area.
  • Litigation within estate planning: Our lawyer helps people throughout California with will contests and other disputes that arise in estate planning matters. Since Michael P. Ring is principally a trial lawyer, we do not get involved in setting up estates, but instead are called once a dispute arises.

Our lawyer and staff are absolutely committed to the welfare of our clients. We get to know our clients and their families well, consulting with them carefully and keeping them consistently updated on any and all developments in their case.

How Securities Laws Protect Seniors From Financial Exploitation

Seniors are frequent targets of investment scams and securities fraud. We help victims recover losses and hold negligent or dishonest brokers accountable. Many older investors are approached with fraudulent investment opportunities, Ponzi schemes or risky products disguised as “safe” retirement options. Others may be persuaded to move their life savings into unsuitable or high-fee investments that benefit the broker, not the client.
Cognitive decline, social isolation or reliance on others for financial help can make seniors vulnerable to these schemes. That’s why brokerage firms and financial advisers have strict duties under both federal law and regulations from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Brokerage firms must monitor for signs of elder exploitation, ensure that investment recommendations suit the client’s age and financial goals, and act promptly when suspicious activity occurs.
When firms fail to uphold these responsibilities, such as ignoring red flags of financial exploitation or allowing unauthorized trades, they can be held liable for losses. Our firm uses account statements, internal communications, and expert financial testimony to uncover how misconduct occurred and to pursue restitution. Seniors deserve to invest with trust, not fear, and we are prepared to hold financial professionals to the standards the law demands.

When Financial Disputes With Nursing Homes Become Financial Abuse

Financial abuse in nursing homes can take many forms, often hidden behind complex billing or vague explanations. Common types include:
  • Theft of personal property, such as jewelry or cash, from a resident’s room.
  • Unauthorized use of credit cards or bank accounts, often discovered only after unexplained charges appear.
  • Forced or coerced financial transactions and legal documents, including pressuring residents to sign over property or add a staff member as a beneficiary.
  • Mismanagement of resident funds, when facilities hold and improperly spend residents’ personal accounts.
  • Overbilling or improper charges, such as adding services never provided.
  • Identity theft, when a resident’s personal information is used for loans or credit.
  • Unusual or excessive fees hidden in care agreements.
  • Lack of transparency in financial matters, where facilities refuse to provide clear records or itemized statements.
We take these violations seriously. Our attorney investigates whether a facility acted in bad faith or failed to follow California’s elder financial protection laws. When a senior’s trust is abused, we work to recover losses and demand accountability.

Litigation Within Estate Planning: Protecting Your Loved One’s Legacy

Estate planning disputes often reveal deeper patterns of financial abuse. In probate, we frequently see cases involving:
  • Undue influence: When someone manipulates an elderly person into changing a will or trust for personal gain.
  • Forgery: Where signatures on estate documents are falsified to redirect assets.
  • Theft and embezzlement: Including direct misappropriation of funds by caregivers or family members.
  • Coercion: Where threats or manipulation push an elder to make unwanted financial decisions.
  • Abuse of power of attorney: When an agent uses legal authority to enrich themselves rather than act in the elder’s best interest.
  • Trust mismanagement: Including improper distributions or concealment of assets.
  • Exploitation by caregivers: Such as taking control of an elder’s finances under the guise of help.
We step in once these disputes surface. We analyze estate documents, trace assets and work with forensic accountants to reveal wrongdoing. Because our lawyer focuses on litigation rather than planning, we are often called after the harm has already occurred. Our goal is simple: restore fairness and protect the legacy that our clients worked a lifetime to build.

Contact Us

With considerable resources and over 40 years of combined experience, our attorney, Michael P. Ring, at Michael P. Ring & Associates can take on any opponent. We would love to meet with you to discuss your elder abuse issues – either visit our contact page or call 805-564-2333 to set up an appointment with an attorney. Our law office is in Santa Barbara, California, and we help people throughout California. Many of our clients come from the Tri-County area of Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo.

Photo Of Michael P. Ring
Photo Of Michael P. Ring