Estate Planning

The government prepares a budget. Businesses and families prepare budgets. A special needs trust should be no different.

Last month we discussed some initial things that every trustee of a special needs trust should do upon learning that the primary beneficiary has passed away. Now, we'll explore additional steps to consider when closing out the trust.

We at the Academy of Special Needs Planners (ASNP) are pleased to announce that California special needs planning attorney Kevin Urbatsch has joined our Advisory Board.

If I create a special needs trust, will I remain eligible for Medicaid and SSI?...

Funding a special needs trust with enough money to pay for the needs of a child with special needs can be a daunting task for many parents. One solution is to fund the trust with a form of life insurance.

Choosing a trustee is one of the most important and difficult issues in special needs trusts. The trustee must have the necessary expertise to manage the trust, including making proper investments, paying bills, keeping accounts, and preparing tax returns. A...

Income paid from a special needs trust to a beneficiary will reduce SSI benefits by one dollar for every dollar paid to him or her directly. In addition, payments by the trust to the beneficiary for food or housing are...

Five Massachusetts attorneys have written an uncomplicated, user-friendly guide for those charged with administering a special needs trust.