Estate planning for a child with a disability presents unique challenges. You must address the same issues as every parent – establishing trusts, naming guardians, and dealing with tax issues – but you face additional concerns too. You may be asking yourself:
At Harrison LLP, our attorneys have helped many families navigate these challenges. We work closely with our clients and a network of advisors to develop comprehensive, holistic estate and life-care planning that integrates traditional estate planning tools with the use of discretionary and special needs trusts, letters of intent and future-care planning. We have the experience to counsel families through the labyrinth of federal and state government benefits and design plans that preserve eligibility. Our attorneys have knowledge and expertise in trust and estate law, trust income tax issues and guardianships. We collaborate with the family’s financial planner, insurance advisor, and introduce care-managers and professional trustees, when necessary, to ensure that the individual with a disability has a system of support and oversight beyond basic government benefits. We also work with family law attorneys when parents of a child with special needs divorce. Special planning is required for child support payments when the child attains age 18.
Listen to Kim Martin‘s feature in the ABC’s of Disability Planning Podcast where she discusses her favorite special needs trust provisions.
