In February 2019, Sona and Christina attended the Special Needs Symposium in Santa Rosa, California. The symposium focused on planning for persons with disabilities. The essential purpose of a special needs trust is to improve the quality of an individual’s life without disqualifying him or her from public benefit eligibility.

Planning in this unique area of law requires identifying a support team for the beneficiary. Families who seek to create a special needs trust for their disabled child appoint a Trustee, preferably a professional fiduciary, as well as a care manager and advisory committee. Each person serves an important role in ensuring the beneficiary has ongoing financial and community support.

Our office focuses on making sure the special needs trusts we create have the tools to not only support the beneficiary, but also the members of their team. We plan with our clients to determine which resources should be set aside for their disabled loved one’s lifetime and, how to effectively manage those resources. There is no doubt that a special needs trust beneficiary will need ongoing advocacy, but what is often overlooked is also their need for normalcy. It is important to identify what makes the particular beneficiary’s quality of life better. If you have a child with special needs, please do not hesitate to contact our office for a consultation.