Estate planning is important for everyone, but planning for a loved one with special needs is especially critical. If you’re a parent of a child with special needs, planning is not just about passing on your assets; it's also about ensuring that your child continues to receive necessary support without jeopardizing any government benefits to which they are entitled. With the right plan, you can financially support your loved one and protect your assets from recovery claims by the state. Proper special needs planning requires a thorough understanding of legal tools available to protect an individual who relies on government benefit programs like SSI, CADI, MA, and others. Our attorneys are experienced in every facet of planning for the best life for your loved one with a disability, from benefits, to trusts and ABLE accounts, guardianship and less restrictive alternatives, and more.
For adults with disabilities, special needs planning also ensures that the individual maintains as much autonomy and independence as possible, avoiding the need for guardianship/conservatorship, and ensuring surrogate or supported decision-makers are able to provide support when needed. It is our priority that every client feels informed and empowered through this process.
At Northwoods Law Group, we can guide you to create a comprehensive plan that meets your needs. Special needs planning sometimes involves creating specialized trusts for people with disabilities who are receiving or may at some point require public benefits. We understand the importance of careful drafting—and just as importantly—properly administering supplemental needs trusts and special needs trusts. Special needs trusts and supplemental needs trusts are often core components of estate and long-term care planning for people who are aging and living with chronic illness, for our clients’ children, and/or for people living with disabilities. Our attorneys are connected with other highly skilled attorneys across the state and the country, ensuring we are up to date on the latest information and laws affecting your future.
Our attorneys also advise trustees of supplemental needs trusts and special needs trusts on their responsibilities and how to use trust funds, and prevent mistakes that may leave the trustee liable in the future. Contact us to speak to attorneys who are experienced in special needs planning and can help develop a plan to fit your specific needs.