Estate Planning

In case you haven't thought of checking in with your special needs planner in a while, here are five events that should trigger an immediate call to your attorney.

Life insurance provides a unique opportunity for many families to guarantee the financial security of their loved ones with special needs without placing a significant financial strain on other family members.

When an SSI beneficiary finds out that he is going to receive an inheritance, his first reaction may be to refuse to accept it.  But this refusal, also known as a disclaimer, could make things even worse for the beneficiary.

Once you begin to understand how the gift tax system really works, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that most people can fund a special needs trust for a person with disabilities with a lot more than $14,000 a...

Parents giving gifts to children will sometimes provide nothing to the child with special needs while giving substantial amounts to the child’s siblings. This planning strategy can lead to trouble, as a recent Wisconsin case highlights.

The financial planning steps a family takes when their child turns 18 establish the foundation for the child's support and well-being for the rest of the child’s life. Therefore, it is essential that parents take extra care when planning for...

At some point in their child's early adolescence, most families suddenly realize that the services and programs that they rely on to care for the child will soon disappear and be replaced by radically different benefits.  One of the most...

Can you prepare a will and special needs trust online without a lawyer?...

I live in one state but my son lives in a group home in neighboring state.  Where should I establish a special needs trust for his benefit?...