Predatory Marriage: The Frank Family's Story

As part of our Adult Safeguarding Awareness Week, Daphne Frank shares a devastating account of her mother falling victim to a predatory marriage that highlights the need for better protection of vulnerable people.

Daphne recently attended a local Domestic Abuse Network, and we are delighted to be able to share a recording of this to highlight the Franks family story.

“Joan Blass was 91 with severe dementia and terminal cancer. After her death in March 2016, we found that a much younger man, age 68, had secretly married her five months previously. She never knew that she was married. These events have had a devastating effect on our family both emotionally and financially. We were shocked by how few checks there were to stop this marriage from taking place. We believe that there needs to be better protection against such predatory marriage to prevent this happening to anyone else” (Predatory Marriage UK – Reforming marriage laws and procedures to protect people with dementia).

After the recording, health colleagues will host a Q&A session.