Person convicted of or found civilly liable for certain offenses against the elderly or a person with a disability.
    (a) A person who is convicted of a violation of Section 12-19, 12-21, 16-1.3, or 17-56, or subsection (a) or (b) of Section 12-4.4a, of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or a person who has been found by a preponderance of the evidence to be civilly liable for financial exploitation, as defined in subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of this Act, may not receive any property, benefit, or other interest by reason of the death of the victim of that offense, whether as heir, legatee, beneficiary, joint tenant, tenant by the entirety, survivor, appointee, or in any other capacity and whether the property, benefit, or other interest passes pursuant to any form of title registration, testamentary or nontestamentary instrument, intestacy, renunciation, or any other circumstance. Except as provided in subsection (f) of this Section, the property, benefit, or other interest shall pass as if the person convicted of a violation of Section 12-19, 12-21, 16-1.3, or 17-56, or subsection (a) or (b) of Section 12-4.4a, of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or the person found by a preponderance of the evidence to be civilly liable for financial exploitation, as defined in subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of this Act, died before the decedent; provided that with respect to joint tenancy property or property held in tenancy by the entirety, the interest possessed prior to the death by the person convicted or found civilly liable may not be diminished by the application of this Section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person convicted of a violation of Section 12-19, 12-21, 16-1.3, or 17-56, or subsection (a) or (b) of Section 12-4.4a, of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or a person who has been found by a preponderance of the evidence to be civilly liable for financial exploitation, as defined in subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of this Act, shall be entitled to receive property, a benefit, or an interest in any capacity and under any circumstances described in this Section if it is demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that the victim of that offense knew of the conviction or finding of civil liability and subsequent to the conviction or finding of civil liability expressed or ratified his or her intent to transfer the property, benefit, or interest to the person convicted of a violation of Section 12-19, 12-21, 16-1.3, or 17-56, or subsection (a) or (b) of Section 12-4.4a, of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or the person found by a preponderance of the evidence to be civilly liable for financial exploitation, as defined in subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of this Act, in any manner contemplated by this Section.

Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 755 ILCS 5/2-6.6

  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Joint tenancy: A form of property ownership in which two or more parties hold an undivided interest in the same property that was conveyed under the same instrument at the same time. A joint tenant can sell his (her) interest but not dispose of it by will. Upon the death of a joint tenant, his (her) undivided interest is distributed among the surviving joint tenants.
  • Legatee: A beneficiary of a decedent
  • State: when applied to different parts of the United States, may be construed to include the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14
  • Tenancy by the entirety: A type of joint tenancy between husband and wife that is recognized in some States. Neither party can sever the joint tenancy relationship; when a spouse dies, the survivor acquires full title to the property.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.

     (b) The holder of any property subject to the provisions of this Section is not liable for distributing or releasing the property to the person convicted of violating Section 12-19, 12-21, 16-1.3, or 17-56, or subsection (a) or (b) of Section 12-4.4a, of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or to the person found by a preponderance of the evidence to be civilly liable for financial exploitation as defined in subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of this Act.
     (c) If the holder is a financial institution, trust company, trustee, or similar entity or person, the holder shall not be liable for any distribution or release of the property, benefit, or other interest to the person convicted of a violation of Section 12-19, 12-21, 16-1.3, or 17-56, or subsection (a) or (b) of Section 12-4.4a, of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or person found by a preponderance of the evidence to be civilly liable for financial exploitation, as defined in subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of this Act, unless the holder knowingly distributes or releases the property, benefit, or other interest to the person so convicted or found civilly liable after first having received actual written notice of the conviction or finding of civil liability in sufficient time to act upon the notice.
     (d) The Illinois State Police shall have access to State of Illinois databases containing information that may help in the identification or location of persons convicted of or found civilly liable for the offenses enumerated in this Section. Interagency agreements shall be implemented, consistent with security and procedures established by the State agency and consistent with the laws governing the confidentiality of the information in the databases. Information shall be used only for administration of this Section.
     (e) A civil action against a person for financial exploitation, as defined in subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of this Act, may be brought by an interested person, pursuant to this Section, after the death of the victim or during the lifetime of the victim if the victim is adjudicated a person with a disability. A guardian is under no duty to bring a civil action under this subsection during the ward’s lifetime, but may do so if the guardian believes it is in the best interests of the ward.
     (f) The court may, in its discretion, consider such facts and circumstances as it deems appropriate to allow the person convicted or found civilly liable for financial exploitation, as defined in subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of this Act, to receive a reduction in interest or benefit rather than no interest or benefit as stated under subsection (a) of this Section.