Q. I hear that President Obama signed a new law that will make life easier for persons with a disability. Do you know anything about this? We would like to set up something for our grandchild who has a disability and is on SSI and Medi-Cal. A. Yes. It is called “Achieving a Better… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Special Needs Planning
Planning a Bequest for a Child on Public Benefits
Q. One of our adult children has a disability and receives SSI and Medi-Cal. We are concerned that an inheritance may terminate his benefits. We have heard something about a Special Needs Trust. Can you tell us more about that? A. Sure. As you apparently know, your son cannot have more than $2,000 in savings… Read More »
Planning Your Affairs When Faced with a Chronic or Terminal Illness
We mention often on our blog that each family will have unique circumstances and unique estate planning needs—this is especially true of families in which one member has a chronic or terminal disease such as cancer, diabetes, or, as mentioned in this article in Forbes, multiple sclerosis. For most people, the documents in their estate… Read More »
Leaving a Gift or Bequest to a Special Needs Child
If you have a child with special needs, planning your estate takes on a whole new dimension; especially, as this article in Forbes points out, now that “state and local governments are tightening income restrictions for medical benefits and supportive services, which are typically paid for by Social Security and Medicaid. Those services are tough… Read More »
How a Special Needs Trust Can Help Your Child
You know how important it is to protect your family with an estate plan, but if you have a child with special needs then taking steps to protect them if something should happen to you is essential. Unfortunately, for families which include special needs children, knowing exactly the best way to protect your child(ren) isn’t… Read More »
Planning for the Future is Essential for Special Needs Families
If you have a special needs child, parent, or sibling then you know that planning for the future can be overwhelming under the best of circumstances; which is why so many parents and caretakers tend to live for today, while planning for tomorrow is always put off until… well, until tomorrow. But if planning and… Read More »
Helping the Special People in Your Life: The Special Needs Trust
Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles often come into our offices to make estate plans, and one of the questions they ask is how they can support the people in their lives who have special needs. Special needs can include anything from Autism or Down Syndrome to Paralysis or blindness, and everything in between. These special… Read More »
New Website May Help Caregivers Breathe a Sigh of Relief
If you provide care for an elderly relative or a special needs child you know how much work is involved in just getting away for an afternoon or evening, let alone planning for their care if you were to pass away. First you have to find a caregiver qualified to handle your loved one’s more… Read More »
Providing for the Special Heroes in Your Life
As an estate planning law firm we often have to take on the role of encouraging our clients to think and talk about difficult and sometimes sad issues. Sometimes, however, we have the joy of sharing something truly heartwarming. This video about autistic high school basketball player Jason McElwain is one of those things. Check… Read More »
Autistic Adults: When Your Child Needs You as Much at 50 as She Did at 5
Every parent’s first priority is making sure that their child is provided for; that is an important goal for young couples when creating Wills and other estate planning documents. If their child or children are young, parents want to insure that their child will be safe and cared for if that tragic “what if” scenario… Read More »