Estate Planning

In the first part of a two-part series, we explore initial steps for trustees to take when it comes time to terminate a special needs trust.

In some cases, the donor of a special needs trust may want to provide an extra level of assistance to the trust's beneficiary by naming a trust adviser to assist the trustee with trust management. ...

As with most things that sound too good to be true, so-called "Sole Benefit Trusts" can come with a big catch for the person with special needs.

Private retirement savings plans, like IRAs and 401(k)s, have become the main way for American families to save for retirement. But parents of children with special needs need to be vigilant when signing up for a retirement plan or company...

Two estate planning attorneys have written a highly readable overview of the fundamentals every family needs to consider when planning for the future of a person with special needs.

Choosing a trustee is one of the most important and difficult issues in creating a special needs trust. Here are some suggestions.

Academy of Special Needs Planners co-founder Diedre Wachbrit's article "9 Costly Mistakes to Avoid in Planning for Your Special Needs Child" appears in the March 30, 2007, edition of the US Autism & Asperger Association's Weekly News.

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 Social Security Administration (SSA) recently proposed new regulations for how it determines whether someone with a mental disorder is eligible for disability payments. Mental health advocates are concerned that the proposed rules will lead to the use of...