Berlin lawyer accused of forging a note to steal €3,600 from dementia patient’s estate

A lawyer’s handwritten note is at the heart of a shocking fraud case. Did he exploit a vulnerable woman’s estate—or was the document real?

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2025 December 2 . 7:01 PM

1 min read

A woman is lying on a stretcher like thing. There is another woman doing a therapy. There are some... — A woman is lying on a stretcher like thing. There is another woman doing a therapy. There are some posters describing the therapy. There are some items and books on a table beside them.

Lawyer Allegedly Lied in 88-Year-Old Woman's Will - Berlin lawyer accused of forging a note to steal €3,600 from dementia patient’s estate

An 82-year-old lawyer in Berlin faces fraud charges over claims to an elderly woman’s estate. The case centres on allegations that he falsified a note to receive €3,600 from the 88-year-old’s inheritance. The Tiergarten District Court will now examine whether the lawyer lied about the deal.

The woman, who suffered from advanced dementia, was living in a nursing home in 2013. Prosecutors argue her condition made any legal agreement impossible at the time. Despite this, the lawyer presented a handwritten note, allegedly from her, as proof of a promise to pay him one-tenth of her estate.

The lawyer later used this note in a 2023 civil case to support his claim. Authorities allege he knowingly made false statements to secure the money. The court must now decide if the document was genuine or fabricated.

If convicted, the lawyer could face penalties for attempted fraud. The case highlights the legal risks of exploiting vulnerable individuals in estate disputes. A verdict will determine whether the handwritten note was legitimate or part of a deception.