special needs planning
Some of our most rewarding work as estate planners is working with families that include children or grandchildren with a disability.
Special needs trust options
When planning for families that include individuals with a disability, some additional planning work is required. Typically, this planning work includes a comprehensive estate plan plus a special needs trust for the individual with a disability.
These trusts allow clients to include the person with a disability in their plan without affecting their eligibility for public benefits. We advise our clients on:
Choosing between pooled trusts and trusts created in their will or trust document.
Choosing the right trustee (corporate, pooled, or individual) for the trust.
Choosing how to structure the gift (i.e a set dollar amount, percentage of the whole, or something else) to best meet the beneficiary’s needs while addressing other estate planning goals.
Through a grants program administered by Wispact, a nonprofit dedicated to providing professional management of pooled special needs trusts, we are often able to provide this work at no cost to our clients.
Getting started
As with all of our planning, plans that include a special needs trust start with a no obligation consultation with an attorney. To get started, call our office to schedule your consultation. We look forward to working with you!