Special Needs Trusts

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.

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.

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...

The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require health insurers to provide the same level of coverage for mental illness that they do for physical illness, but the bill differs sharply from a version passed earlier by...

Parents of children with special needs often want to direct required distributions from IRAs following their deaths into a special needs trust (SNT) for the child. But if the trust is not set up properly, the income tax consequences...

When care needs are significant or family members cannot be available, parents may wish to include instructions in a special needs trust for the trustee to retain a professional care manager.

It is possible to qualify for benefits from the Social Security Administration, like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), without a birth certificate.

A federal court in New York recently ruled that the state discriminated against people with mental illnesses by housing approximately 4,300 New York City residents in "adult homes."...

A grandparent, aunt, or close friend of the family has written a generous check to your child with special needs or has named the child in a will or trust. Should you be pleased?...