Inheritance dispute investigation becomes necessary when family members steal what should be yours. Your parent died, and suddenly that inheritance you were promised has vanished. Your siblings cleaned out the bank accounts before you even knew what was happening. Your aunt took all the jewelry. Your cousin somehow got the house deed transferred to their name.
The family member who was supposed to handle everything—the executor, the trustee, the power of attorney—has stolen what should have been yours.
And now they’re looking you in the eye claiming there’s nothing left. Or that your parent changed their mind at the last minute. Or that you’re remembering wrong about what you were supposed to inherit.
You’re not just grieving your loved one. You’re dealing with theft and betrayal by people you trusted. People you grew up with. Family.
We work with Houston families every week dealing with exactly this—inheritance theft, missing assets, manipulated elderly relatives, and family members who steal from estates they’re supposed to protect.
You have legal rights to your inheritance. You have options to recover what was stolen. And you absolutely should fight for what’s rightfully yours, even when the thieves share your last name.
How Family Members Steal Inheritances
Financial Exploitation Before Death
Often, inheritance dispute investigation reveals theft started before your loved one even dies.
A family member gets power of attorney or becomes a caregiver. They have access to bank accounts, financial documents, and your vulnerable elderly relative.
They start transferring money to themselves. Writing checks. Withdrawing cash. Changing beneficiaries on accounts. Selling property. Moving assets out of your relative’s name.
By the time your loved one dies, the inheritance is already gone—stolen gradually over months or years.
According to the National Adult Protective Services Association, financial exploitation of the elderly affects approximately 1 in 10 older Americans annually, with losses totaling billions of dollars.
Manipulating Changes to Wills and Trusts
Some family members manipulate elderly or ill relatives into changing their wills, trusts, or beneficiary designations.
They isolate the person from other family members. They convince them that certain family members don’t care or don’t deserve inheritance. They pressure them to sign new documents when they’re confused, medicated, or cognitively impaired.
Suddenly, a will that divided everything equally now leaves everything to one person. A trust that was supposed to benefit all the grandchildren now only benefits one. Life insurance beneficiaries get changed at the last minute.
These changes weren’t what your loved one truly wanted—they were coerced or manipulated into making them.
Taking Assets Before Estate Settlement
After death but before the estate is settled, some family members just take what they want.
They go to the house and remove valuables. They access bank accounts they shouldn’t have access to. They sell vehicles or property. They take jewelry, artwork, collectibles, or anything else of value.
By the time the estate goes through probate, significant assets are already gone—taken by relatives who had no legal right to them.
Executor or Trustee Abuse
The person appointed to handle the estate—the executor or trustee—has significant power and access. Some abuse that position.
They delay distributions to beneficiaries while using estate assets for themselves. They sell estate property below market value to people they know. They charge excessive fees for their services. They “lose” or hide assets that should be distributed.
They might claim estate expenses were higher than they actually were, pocketing the difference. Or they invest estate money poorly (or fraudulently) and claim the losses were legitimate.
Forging or Destroying Documents
In extreme cases, family members forge wills or destroy original documents that don’t favor them.
They claim a new will exists that leaves everything to them—but the signatures are forged or the document was created under duress.
Or they destroy the actual will so the estate passes through intestacy laws rather than according to your loved one’s stated wishes.
Red Flags You’re Being Cheated
Assets Mysteriously Disappeared
Your parent had substantial savings. Now the accounts are nearly empty. The explanation doesn’t make sense—medical bills were high, but not that high.
Property that should be part of the estate is gone. Valuables your loved one always said you’d inherit have vanished. Nobody knows where they went.
Bank accounts were closed shortly before death and transferred to a single family member.
You’re Being Excluded from Information
The executor or family member handling things won’t answer your questions about the estate. They won’t provide accounting or documentation.
You ask about specific assets and get vague non-answers. You request copies of the will or trust documents and are told you’ll “get them eventually.”
They’re defensive and hostile when you ask reasonable questions about what happened to estate property.
Last-Minute Document Changes
Your loved one’s will or trust was suddenly changed in their final weeks or months—when they were ill, confused, or heavily medicated.
The changes dramatically favor one family member who had access to them. The changes contradict what your loved one told family members for years about their wishes.
The new documents weren’t prepared by your loved one’s longtime attorney, but by a new lawyer that one family member brought in.
You Were Isolated from Your Loved One
A specific family member controlled access to your loved one in their final months or years. They made it difficult for others to visit.
When you did visit, they were always present. They discouraged your loved one from talking to you privately. They intercepted phone calls or mail.
After death, you discover your loved one believed things about you that weren’t true—things this family member apparently told them.
The Math Doesn’t Add Up
The estate value reported in probate documents is far lower than it should be based on what you knew your loved one owned.
Property that was worth hundreds of thousands is suddenly valued much lower. Income your loved one received isn’t reflected in account balances.
Expenses claimed by the executor seem excessive or questionable.
Family Members Living Beyond Their Means
A sibling who was broke six months ago suddenly has money. They bought a new car, took an expensive vacation, or made a down payment on a house—right after your parent died.
They claim it’s from their own savings or income, but the timing is suspicious.
What You Can Do to Fight Back
Hire an Attorney Immediately
If you suspect inheritance theft or estate fraud, hire an estate litigation attorney right away.
Estate law is complex. You need someone who specializes in probate litigation, will contests, and trust disputes.
An attorney can:
- Review estate documents for irregularities
- Challenge the validity of wills or trusts
- Demand proper accounting from executors or trustees
- File lawsuits to recover stolen assets
- Subpoena financial records
- Remove executors or trustees who are violating their duties
Don’t wait. According to the American Bar Association, many estate matters have strict deadlines for filing challenges or claims.
Get Professional Investigation
Professional inheritance dispute investigation uncovers what happened to missing assets and provides evidence for legal action.
We trace assets, document financial exploitation, interview witnesses, and gather evidence of theft or fraud.
Investigation reveals:
- Where money went before and after death
- Property transfers that shouldn’t have happened
- Financial exploitation by family members
- Evidence of undue influence or manipulation
- Hidden assets the executor isn’t disclosing
- Proof of forgery or document fraud
This evidence supports your legal case and helps your attorney recover what was stolen. Learn more about our asset investigation services for estate matters.
Request Full Accounting
As a beneficiary, you have legal rights to information about the estate.
You can demand:
- Complete accounting of all estate assets and debts
- Documentation of all transactions and distributions
- Receipts for claimed expenses
- Proof of proper valuation for estate property
- Explanation of missing assets
If the executor refuses to provide accounting or provides incomplete information, your attorney can petition the court to compel it.
Courts take executor duties seriously. Failure to provide proper accounting is grounds for removal and can indicate fraud.
Challenge the Will or Trust
If you believe the will or trust was forged, created under duress, or signed when your loved one lacked capacity, you can contest it.
Grounds for challenging estate documents include:
- Lack of testamentary capacity (cognitive impairment, dementia)
- Undue influence (manipulation or coercion)
- Fraud or forgery
- Improper execution (not signed correctly under state law)
- Ambiguity or mistake
You’ll need evidence. Medical records showing cognitive decline. Witness testimony about manipulation or isolation. Expert handwriting analysis if forgery is suspected.
This is where professional inheritance dispute investigation becomes critical—gathering the evidence needed to prove your case.
Pursue Criminal Charges When Appropriate
In cases of clear theft, fraud, or financial exploitation of the elderly, criminal charges may be appropriate.
Financial exploitation of seniors is a crime in Texas. Forgery, fraud, and theft are crimes regardless of family relationships.
Contact the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Adult Protective Services division if you have evidence of crimes. Provide them with documentation gathered through investigation.
Criminal prosecution runs parallel to civil lawsuits. You can pursue both—criminal charges against the person who stole, and civil lawsuits to recover assets.
Freeze Assets and Obtain Court Orders
Your attorney can petition the court for emergency orders to:
- Freeze estate assets to prevent further dissipation
- Remove an executor or trustee who’s violating their duties
- Appoint a temporary administrator to protect the estate
- Require bond from the executor to protect against theft
- Prohibit transfer or sale of estate property pending litigation
Courts have significant power to protect estate assets when there’s evidence of mismanagement or theft.
What Investigation Uncovers
Bank Account Analysis
Professional inheritance dispute investigation includes obtaining and analyzing bank records showing:
- Large withdrawals before death
- Transfers to specific family members
- ATM withdrawals when your loved one was hospitalized or incapacitated
- Check signatures that might be forged
- Pattern of financial exploitation over time
Bank records tell the story of where money went and who took it.
Property Transfer Investigation
We investigate property transfers including:
- Real estate deeds changed before death
- Vehicles titled to family members
- Beneficiary changes on accounts
- Transfer on death (TOD) designations added late
- Property sold below market value
We document when transfers happened, who benefited, and whether your loved one had capacity to authorize them.
Witness Interviews
We interview people who had contact with your loved one:
- Healthcare providers who saw them regularly
- Neighbors who observed family dynamics
- Friends who knew their wishes
- Caregivers who witnessed interactions with family
- Financial advisors or attorneys who worked with them
Witnesses provide crucial testimony about capacity, manipulation, and your loved one’s true intentions.
Document Examination
We examine wills, trusts, and other documents for:
- Signature inconsistencies
- Improper notarization
- Evidence of forgery
- Changes made when capacity was questionable
- Contradictions with earlier documents
We work with handwriting experts and document examiners when necessary.
Lifestyle Analysis
We investigate family members who suddenly have money after your loved one’s death:
- New purchases or assets
- Travel and spending patterns
- Deposits to their accounts matching estate withdrawals
- Property acquired after death
- Lifestyle inconsistent with legitimate income
This evidence shows who benefited from the theft.
Protecting Future Inheritances
If Your Loved One Is Still Alive
If you have elderly parents or relatives, take steps to prevent inheritance theft:
- Encourage them to work with reputable estate attorneys
- Ensure estate documents are clear and properly executed
- Be involved in their care and finances (with their permission)
- Watch for family members isolating them
- Monitor for signs of financial exploitation
- Encourage transparency about estate plans with all family
- Consider suggesting professional trustees instead of family members
Document Everything Now
If you’re concerned about a specific family member:
- Document your loved one’s stated intentions about their estate
- Keep records of conversations about what they want
- Save emails or letters where they discuss their wishes
- Photograph valuable items they’ve said you’ll inherit
- Stay involved and visit regularly
This documentation can be critical if disputes arise later.
You Have the Right to Fight
Inheritance theft by family members is devastating. You’re not just losing money or property—you’re losing what your loved one wanted you to have.
You’re also dealing with betrayal by people you trusted. People who should have honored your loved one’s wishes but chose to steal instead.
You have legal rights. You have options. And you absolutely should fight for what’s rightfully yours.
Don’t let guilt or family pressure stop you from pursuing what you’re owed. The family member who stole from the estate didn’t care about family loyalty.
Our background investigation services can also help uncover financial exploitation patterns and document executor misconduct. For cases involving elder financial abuse before death, our surveillance services can document caregiver theft and exploitation in real-time.
Get Your Inheritance Back
If family members have stolen your inheritance or you suspect estate fraud, contact us immediately.
At Terrance Private Investigator & Associates, we specialize in inheritance dispute investigation throughout Texas. We uncover missing assets, document theft, trace property transfers, and provide evidence that supports your legal case.
We work with estate attorneys to recover what was stolen and hold thieves accountable—even when they’re family.
Your loved one wanted you to have that inheritance. Let us help you get it back.
Call Now: 832-404-3400
Email: getanswers@piterrance.com
Visit: www.piterrance.com
Confidential investigations. Asset recovery. Justice for estate theft.
