How We Can Help — Special Needs Planning
If you have a loved one with special needs, you want to make sure they’re safe, supported, and well cared for — not just today, but long into the future. By creating an individualized special needs estate plan, you can protect their finances, preserve their government benefits, and secure the peace of mind you deserve.
How Can a Special Needs Planning Attorney Help?
Special needs planning can feel overwhelming, and it’s not always clear where to begin. That’s where we come in. Our firm brings deep knowledge and hands-on experience to this unique area of the law. We know what questions to ask and how to craft a plan that fits your family’s specific circumstances — so you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Does My Child or Loved One with Special Needs Need a Guardian?
Not everyone with a disability needs a guardian to manage their affairs. Whether guardianship is needed depends on your loved one’s age, level of independence, and degree of disability. If guardianship is appropriate, we’ll help guide you through this court-supervised process with care and attention to your family’s unique situation. Because guardianships can take time, it’s wise to start sooner rather than later.
What Is a Special Needs Trust?
A Special Needs Trust (SNT) — sometimes called a Supplemental Needs Trust — is similar to any other trust in that a trustee manages assets for a beneficiary. The key difference is that an SNT is designed specifically to benefit a person with special needs without jeopardizing their eligibility for vital needs-based government benefits like Medicaid or SSI.
Benefits of a Special Needs Trust include:
- Protecting assets for your loved one’s future care
- Providing funds for extra needs and quality-of-life expenses while keeping public benefits intact
- Professional trustee management to handle funds wisely and in the beneficiary’s best interest
About ABLE Accounts
The ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act created ABLE Accounts to help people with special needs manage money for disability-related expenses without losing needs-based government benefits.
Funds in an ABLE Account can be used for a wide range of qualified expenses — from education and housing to transportation and personal care — all while preserving Medicaid and SSI eligibility. An attorney at our firm can explain how ABLE Accounts work, how they can complement a Special Needs Trust, and whether they’re right for your family’s plan.
Speak with a Special Needs Planning Attorney
Don’t wait to put a plan in place for your loved one with special needs. The right plan can protect your child’s or loved one’s independence, well-being, and future security. Contact N Thatcher Law today to learn more about your legal options and how we can help you create the peace of mind you and your family deserve.