What might indicate elder abuse through financial documents?

Unmatched handwriting on checks can be a significant indicator of elder abuse in financial documents. When there is a discrepancy in handwriting, it may suggest that someone other than the elder person has been signing or altering documents without their consent. In many cases of financial exploitation, perpetrators may forge signatures or modify legitimate documents to gain unauthorized access to the elder's funds.

Identifying unmatched handwriting raises red flags about the authenticity and legitimacy of the transactions involved. This scenario warrants further investigation to ensure that the elder's financial rights are protected and that they are not being taken advantage of. On the other hand, frequent small checks may simply reflect the elder's usual spending patterns, while matches between handwriting styles and consistent signatures might not necessarily signify wrongdoing. None of those imply the potential for abuse as clearly as a lack of consistency in handwriting does.