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HB 66

Abuse and exploitation of an elder, effect of conviction on intestate succession, wills, joint assets, and other contractual obligations provided

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Gidley

Alabama bill strips elder abuse/exploitation convicts of inheritance rights, wills, joint assets, and contractual benefits from victims to prevent perpetrators from profiting from crimes.

Reported Out of Committee Second House
#elderly&disabledpersons
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Bill Summary · HB 66

Legislative bill overview

HB 66 modifies Alabama law to penalize individuals convicted of abusing or exploiting elders by invalidating or redirecting their inheritance rights, including intestate succession, wills, joint assets, and other contractual benefits they may have obtained. The bill essentially creates financial consequences for elder abuse convictions that extend beyond criminal penalties. It aims to prevent abusers from profiting from crimes against vulnerable elderly individuals.

Why is this important

Elder abuse is a significant and often underreported problem affecting vulnerable populations. This bill addresses a gap where abusers could previously inherit from or retain financial benefits from their victims, potentially incentivizing exploitation. By stripping convicted abusers of inheritance rights and contractual benefits tied to their victims, the law attempts to remove financial motivation for exploitation while providing some restitution pathway for victims' families.

Potential points of contention

  • Due process concerns: Critics may argue that invalidating wills and contractual rights post-conviction could raise constitutional questions about property rights and the scope of penalties imposed for criminal convictions.
  • Proof and causation challenges: Determining whether an inheritance or asset benefit was "obtained through" abuse versus coincidentally inherited from someone the perpetrator happened to exploit could create litigation and evidentiary burdens.
  • Scope of "elder exploitation": The breadth of what constitutes exploitation under law may be ambiguous, potentially affecting cases involving financial disputes, caregiver relationships, or contested claims of undue influence.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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