Divorce Decree Bond Dispute

Summary

A 40-year-old divorce decree in New York required E bonds to be distributed evenly between siblings. If a sibling opened a joint account with your elderly father and cashed the bonds, it may constitute a breach of fiduciary duty and possibly elder financial abuse. The divorce decree should be enforced as it dictates the distribution of the bonds. Consider consulting a local attorney to explore your legal rights and ensure compliance with the decree.

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The account was opened in October *. I also like to say that he signed over all rights to the bonds to both siblings in *. Being that the bank would not allow my parent to keep switching names up bonds every month the bonds were in siblings name but the divorce court order states they were to be distributed outright evenly amongst both siblings
Thanks for sharing those details. It sounds like a complex situation. Here are some general points to consider:
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty: If your sibling acted in a way that violated the trust placed in them (e.g., misusing the funds), this could be a breach of fiduciary duty.
- Elder Financial Abuse: If your sibling took advantage of your elderly father, this might qualify as elder financial abuse.
- Divorce Decree Compliance: The divorce decree should be enforced as it legally dictates how the bonds should be distributed.
Would you like to be connected to a local lawyer who can provide more specific guidance on your case?