Special Needs Trusts
Estate Planning for Persons With Special Needs
Special needs trusts – whether third-party or self-settled – are valuable tools available for beneficiaries who are disabled or have other special needs. If you have a family member, loved one or friend, who may benefit from a special needs trust, an experienced estate planning attorney can educate you on your options and guide you through the process.
These trusts are ideal for protecting children, heirs, or other family members who have special needs, specifically those who currently receive or may potentially receive government benefits. Special needs trusts – sometimes known as supplemental needs trusts – can create a structure that allows you to pass on assets to someone with special needs without hindering their ability to qualify for government benefits such as Medicaid coverage or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Distributions from the supplemental needs trust are designed to supplement the beneficiary’s public benefits, not supplant them.
