Special Needs Planning

Special needs planning is essential for parents and caregivers who want to ensure that their children and loved ones are well cared for, even in the event of an unforeseen tragedy. While it’s never easy to think about worst-case scenarios, safeguarding your loved one's future means being prepared for anything. 

At The Holmes Law Firm, we are dedicated to ensuring your child or loved one with special needs will be well taken care of when you are no longer able to serve as their primary caregiver.

We offer a variety of estate planning tools and strategies designed to accommodate the unique circumstances presented by children with special needs and their families.

We can help you pass on the financial assets needed for your child to live a rich quality of life without jeopardizing their eligibility for government benefits. We will also assist you in finding and appointing a trusted guardian and/or trustee to look after them in the event of your death or incapacity. And we will help with locating the best residential opportunities and identifying the best means to pay for them.

While you can certainly plan to leave enough money to pay for the massive amount of care and support a special needs loved one typically needs throughout their lifetime, you must be careful not to disqualify them from government benefits like Medicaid and Supplemental Social Security Income .

Fortunately, we can prepare a “special needs trust”, designed to provide supplemental financial resources for the physically, mentally, or developmentally disabled child without affecting their eligibility for public healthcare and income assistance benefits.

Given this, it is vital to work with a knowledgeable special needs attorney who can create a comprehensive special needs trust that is both properly structured and appropriate for your child or loved one's specific situation.