How to Recognize and Report Elder Financial Abuse in New Hampshire

Most elder financial abuse isn’t committed by strangers. It’s committed by someone the victim already trusts, a family member, a caregiver, a neighbor who started helping with errands. That’s what makes it so hard to catch, and so hard to talk about.

If you’re worried about someone you love, here’s what to look for and what to do about it.

What Counts as Financial Abuse

Under New Hampshire law (RSA 631:9), financial exploitation of an elderly or impaired adult is a crime.

It includes:

• Using a power of attorney or joint bank account to take money without authorization
• Using pressure, lies, or undue influence to access someone’s finances
• Forging signatures or manipulating documents
• Phone and online scams that trick seniors into sending money

The line between “helping” and “exploiting” can feel blurry inside a family. Legally, it isn’t.

Warning Signs to Watch For

Financial abuse often doesn’t announce itself.

Look for:

• Unexplained withdrawals or a sudden drop in account balances
• Unpaid bills despite adequate income
• Changes to a will, trust, or power of attorney that the senior doesn’t seem to understand or remember making
• A new “friend” or caregiver who takes an unusual interest in finances
• The senior seeming nervous, confused, or reluctant to talk when certain people are around

One sign alone may mean nothing. A pattern is harder to explain away.

How to Report It in New Hampshire

New Hampshire law makes reporting mandatory for anyone who has reason to believe an incapacitated adult is being exploited.

To report:

• Call the NH Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (BEAS) at 1-800-949-0470, Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm
• For after-hours emergencies, call your local police department or 911
• You can also file a report with your local District Attorney’s office if you want the case prosecuted criminally

Provide as much detail as you can, dates, amounts, names, specific incidents, but file even if you don’t have everything.

What Happens After You Report

Adult Protective Services will investigate and determine whether exploitation occurred.

Depending on the findings, the case can move in two directions:

• Criminal: The perpetrator can face charges under RSA 631:9, with penalties that scale with the severity of the offense
• Civil: Victims may be able to recover stolen assets through civil litigation

An elder law attorney can help the family understand which path makes sense and act quickly before assets are further depleted or moved.

The Best Defense Is a Good Plan

Once money is gone, recovering it is difficult and slow. The more effective approach is prevention: carefully drafted powers of attorney, clearly designated financial agents, and legal structures that create accountability. A trusted person managing finances shouldn’t object to oversight  and if they do, that’s worth paying attention to.