​Special Needs Planning

Our Special Needs Planning practice works with parents to create a legal plan that:

• assess the individual's eligibility for SSI, SSDI, Medicaid or Medicare 
• ​facilitates the individuals application for SSI and Medicaid
• reviews the current estate plan (if one exists) and whether it addresses the individual with special needs
• designs a strategy to protect the individual's benefit eligibility and provide financial support that will not disqualify the individual for those benefits
• guides parents in establishing a trust that will be administered by others when the parents have died
• drafts documents to capture parents and family's plan for the individual
• helps parents identify trusted family, friends, or corporate trustees who can manage the individual's finances and life decisions when the parents are gone
• connects families with resources, professionals and others who can help with various tasks and services
• supports the trustee of the special needs trust when it is time to administer and use the trust funds for the individual's benefit

Parent's Guide to Planning

Testimonials

Our mission  is to support wishes and decisions surrounding your family member with special needs.  We consider all aspects of your loved one’s total picture-- diagnosis, treatment, living plans, support system, therapies and long term needs - not just the legal or financial picture.  It is often very difficult for families to take these first steps, and we provide a supportive and empowering environment in which to discuss these plans.  

After we learn about your child’s story and diagnosis, your family’s concerns, financial picture and your goals, we will design a customized legal plan to protect, support and optimize financial resources for your child.  We will follow through and help you implement the plan annually to ensure your family and child’s ongoing or changing needs are addressed.  While our legal planning services are the foundation of our practice, we add value to our clients’ experience by connecting them to our network of other professional services, organizations, and education.  Sometimes, that connection is to another parent whose child shares a similar disorder; others, to a professional for specialized services.  Best of all, those in our special needs network understand the issues and frustration of special needs families as well as the unique joy we experience.

Special Needs Planning – legally speaking – may include a Special (also called “Supplemental”) Needs Trust, first party trust, guardianship, powers of attorney, and selections of Trustees and successor guardians.  

Other Special Needs Planning may include discussion of future living arrangements, independent living coaching, financial planning, ABLE accounts, transition planning (when a child turns age 18), education (IEP) consulting, education attorneys, criminal defense, bullying, substance abuse, job and workforce coaching and training, inclusion training and consulting, non-profit services and camps, college support services, therapists, medical specialists, psychological care and special recreation.  Our team can connect you to other professionals who specialize in these and other services, and have demonstrated success and experience with these issues.

Contact Us

Download special needs planning brochure