Estate Planning for Children with Special Needs

I have a son with autism. He’s in his 20s and he’s very capable. But as a young child, we had no clue what his level of capability was going to be, and that’s where parents are all the time: What is it going to mean for my special needs child when I die and I leave everything to them? How are they going to be able to handle what they’ve inherited? What kind of benefits will they have? Who’s going to look after them and be their friend?

I know, in the case of my own son, I’m happy to say he’s very independent. But he has definite needs that we’re going to address, and we do address, in the planning. Such as making sure there’s a good trustee to look out for his assets, and that his bills are paid, and that his health needs are going to be met by enabling him to get the resources he needs, and the support — and in some cases government benefits — that he may need.

It’s inevitable that our experience, my personal experience, is going to be at play. I’m compassionate because I’ve felt it. At the same time, we give objective, good advice to get the right tools in place to help families with children with disabilities.

If your child has special needs, consider creating a Supplemental Needs Trust. This trust will help meet their needs while still qualifying for public benefits programs. Schedule a complimentary call to discuss in more detail.