SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING

When you or a loved one has a disability that may require government-funded assistance, special needs planning is essential to protect the ability to receive those benefits. We can help by creating plans that provide supplemental support without endangering the benefits you or they may need. We offer the following services:

Third Party Special Needs Trusts:

• Created and funded by one person, using their own assets, for the benefit of another person, it is the most common vehicle for parents to provide for their developmentally disabled or mentally ill child. It can be created as either a stand-alone document or as part of the parents’ overall estate plan.

Self-settled Special Needs Trusts:

• This type of trust can be established by the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s parent, grandparent, legal guardian or a court, but is ultimately funded by transferring the beneficiary’s own assets into the trust. By following strict federal guidelines for creating this type of trust, the assets of this trust will not be deemed a resource to the beneficiary for Medicaid and SSI eligibility purposes.

Pooled Special Needs Trusts:

• Under this type of trust, a not-for-profit trustee, such as a charitable organization, agrees to hold the beneficiary’s assets on his behalf and for his benefit, giving the disabled beneficiary resources to supplement government benefits without endangering eligibility for those benefits.

Structured settlement consultation for long-term special needs planning:

• If you or a loved one is disabled as a result of another person’s carelessness, we can advise you regarding special needs planning options for financial settlements, in order for you or your loved one to receive the benefits of these funds without jeopardizing eligibility to receive governmental benefits.