Allows money to be tapped for fees, not for need

An investigation by the Boston Globe has found widespread failures in the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court system, which is charged with overseeing trust funds for more than 900 adults with intellectual disabilities.

An estimated $30 million is kept in trust funds created a generation ago for their upkeep, but very little has been spent on their behalf. Instead, the money has been siphoned off for bank management and legal bills.

Over 22 years, Paul Riley did not see a dime of the $50,000 that sat in a trust fund in his name, but $17,000 of his money was spent to pay legal fees, court fees and investment management charges.

The trust funds were created for the care of adults who lived in institutions like the Fernald Center in Waltham (above).

(Boston Globe photo)

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 31st, 2008 at 10:38 am and is filed under independent living, institutionalization, intellectual/developmental disabilities, law. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post