A properly funded Special Needs Trust helps maintain eligibility for needs-based programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. It also protects assets from disqualifying transfers, providing funds for supplemental care, therapy, and education. This service supports families facing long-term caregiving by clarifying roles, responsibilities, and successor planning.
Enhanced continuity of care across ages and stages provides dedicated funds for therapies, transportation, housing, and enrichment programs, ensuring consistent support even as family circumstances change. This stability helps caregivers plan effectively and reduces the risk of unmet needs.
Choosing our firm means working with professionals who value clear communication, practical guidance, and thoughtful problem solving. We tailor strategies to your family’s unique situation and collaborate with you to achieve durable, compliant results.
After setup, we establish funding strategies, monitor trust performance, and provide ongoing support to trustees, caregivers, and beneficiaries, to maintain goals and compliance.
A Special Needs Trust is a device that preserves eligibility for government benefits while allowing funds to supplement care. It is typically set up by a family member or guardian and requires careful drafting to avoid disqualifying transfers. Consider an SNT if you want to provide ongoing support for education, therapy, housing, and activities without risking loss of essential benefits.
An SNT generally protects eligibility for needs-based benefits while enabling additional supports. However, improper funding or direct resource transfers can affect benefits. By planning with a qualified attorney, families can maximize resources without triggering disqualification. Careful coordination with benefit programs helps sustain long-term support for the beneficiary.
The Trustee can be a trusted family member, a friend, or a professional fiduciary. The key requirements are reliability, financial acumen, and the ability to follow complex rules. Choosing the right Trustee early helps ensure steady administration and governance aligned with the beneficiary’s goals. We help families evaluate options and establish clear Trustee duties.
Funding methods vary, including lump sums, periodic gifts, and life-time contributions. It’s important to structure funding to avoid creating disqualifying transfers while ensuring funds are available for the beneficiary’s needs. Our team explains tax implications, timing, and coordination with other assets to sustain the trust.
If the beneficiary passes away, the trust terms typically dictate remaining assets—often redirected to other beneficiaries or used to reimburse certain benefits. The specifics depend on whether the trust is a First Party or Third Party SNT. A careful plan anticipates these outcomes and minimizes unintended consequences for family resources.
First Party SNTs are funded with the beneficiary’s own assets and may require payback to government programs upon death. Third Party SNTs are funded by others and generally do not have payback obligations. Understanding these distinctions helps families choose the structure that best fits their goals and protections.
The timeline varies with complexity, document readiness, and court requirements. Some trusts can be prepared in weeks, while others may take months. Being proactive with information and collaborating closely with your attorney speeds the process. We provide timelines and regular updates to keep you informed.
In many cases, an SNT can be amended or updated as laws change or family circumstances shift. Amendments may require formal documents and trustee approval. We guide you through permissible changes while preserving benefits and ensuring continued compliance.
While some forms exist, drafting a valid Special Needs Trust with appropriate funding and governance is complex. Working with a qualified attorney helps prevent mistakes that could affect benefits, taxes, or administration. A professional will tailor provisions to your family’s needs and ensure lasting protection.
ABLE accounts can be used in conjunction with SNTs, but interactions depend on funding and beneficiary status. Proper planning avoids duplicative disqualification risks and preserves eligibility for benefits. We explain how these tools complement each other to maximize the beneficiary’s resources and opportunities.
