title: Expanding Slayer Statutes to Elder Abuse.
abstract: Common law has a dictum that people must not benefit from their crimes. In years past, states have enacted slayer rules to prevent killers from inheriting from their victims. The specific criteria and applicability of slayer rules vary by jurisdiction. Recently, several states, including Washington, have expanded their slayer rules to disqualify persons from inheriting if they have been involved in abuse or financial exploitation of the deceased. Reviewed herein are the abuse disinheritance laws, the relationship of the laws to concepts of testamentary capacity and undue influence, and the relevance to forensic psychiatric evaluations.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Piel is Assistant Professor, University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Staff Psychiatrist, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA. jennifer.piel@va.gov.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States; D014861:Washington