Bill would keep abusers of elderly from inheriting from them

Someone who abuses an elderly person would no longer be able to inherit the departed's assets. That is the aim of House Bill 52, which unanimously passed a House committee Thursday and is expected to pass the full House.

Rep. Joni Jenkins, D-Shively, right, said the bill is meant to close a gap in the existing law. "A law known as the 'slayer statute' already bars a person convicted of killing someone from inheriting from the victim," The Courier-Journal's Deborah Yetter reports. "But as things stand now, people convicted of abusing, neglecting or financially exploiting an elderly person still can benefit financially after their death."

One instance involved John Jackson Robbins of Louisville, who was sent to prison for 10 years after being found guilty of neglecting, abusing and financially exploiting his mother. He inherited her $1.1 million estate upon her death.

Jefferson District Judge David Bowles, right (C-J photo), oversaw the probate case. Despite efforts to keep the money from Robbins, "there was no law to prevent that," he said.

If no other heirs can be found after an heir-caused death, the proposed law would give the estate to a trust fund for protection of the elderly. (Read more)