On Undue Influence: A Forensic Psychology Primer

Every year, millions of seniors are financially exploited, and many times vulnerable older adults fall victim to people who want to take their money after they die. On Undue Influence is a primer for attorneys, psychologists, and the lay public to understand the legal and psychological factors underlying the concept of undue influence: when a person’s free agency is destroyed, causing their estate plan to reflect the wishes of the undue influencer instead of their own. The book covers how the legal system defines undue influence, and how psychological and neuropsychological theory fits into the evaluative process. The author uses a real-life case example to illustrate how attorneys put together their legal case to prove undue influence and how expert witnesses objectively evaluate whether undue influence occurred. If you like books or movies where someone is murdered because of a disputed last will and testament, this book is for you. If you are wondering whether your loved one was unduly influenced, this book might help you better understand what happened. If you are an attorney who wants a quick explanation of undue influence, this book can help. If you are a mental health professional wondering whether your older client has been exploited, look no further. The content is witty and engaging, and this short primer will help attorneys, psychologists, and the general public understand and grasp the basics of a complicated topic.