Estate Planning

This book offers a boilerplate special needs trust. Our reviewer finds many flaws and asks: Why would you want to scrimp on the one tool that will provide for your child'™s lifetime care?...

In many cases, the trustee of a special needs trust should hire a professional investment adviser. Here are some guidelines for hiring one.

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has put off the question of whether a special needs trust beneficiary is eligible for Medicaid until the state can locate its apparently lost Medicaid plan from 1972.

Parents of children with special needs must be concerned with ensuring that medical and financial decisions will continue to be made in the child's best interest once the child reaches age 18 -- the age of legal capacity.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently ruled that when a person dies, his or her IRA may be transferred to a child's SNT free of estate or gift taxes, and that required minimum distributions from that IRA to the SNT...

The trustee of a special needs trust (SNT) has all of the duties of any trustee, plus specific added responsibilities due to the special needs of the beneficiary. All trustees are responsible for: Appropriate investment of trust property Bookkeeping and accounting of...

A recent New York case highlights the importance of planning in advance for a child with special needs, as well as of choosing the proper advocate for your child.

Beneficiaries of a special needs trust can still qualify for federal housing assistance programs like Section 8, but careful planning is required to avoid having benefits reduced or eliminated.

Special needs trusts (SNTs) can play an important role in helping families plan for children with special needs. Here are some of the most compelling reasons to speak with your attorney about establishing an SNT.