More and more parents have children and grandchildren with disabilities. Some of these children and grandchildren will never be able to work and will be dependent on government assistance programs for income, housing, and/or health care. Many of these government assistance programs have limits as to the income and assets the disabled person can have before being declared ineligible for coverage. Examples of “needs-based” government assistance programs include Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), Medi-Cal, and HUD Section 8 Housing.
As cruel as it sounds, in years gone by, parents and grandparents would disinherit their special needs loved ones in order to preserve the child or grandchild’s needs based government assistance.
Some parents and grandparents would leave the disabled beneficiary’s inheritance to siblings or other relatives, with the request that the funds received be used for the benefit of the disabled loved. However, there are many problems with this estate planning strategy.
What is a Special Needs Trust?
A superior estate planning strategy is to create a Special Needs Trust for the beneficiary. The inheritance is held in a protected trust for the special needs child. Distributions can be made if there are any necessities that are not provided through government assistance. With a Special Needs Trust, the beneficiary has the best of all worlds. The special needs loved one maintains his or her government assistance programs. The beneficiary has a pool of funds available to provide for necessities, as well as niceties not available to the special needs child through a government assistance program.
Dennis M. Sandoval is Member of Special Needs Alliance
Southern California special needs estate planning attorney Dennis M. Sandoval is a proud member of the Special Needs Alliance, a national organization of estate planning attorneys who specialize in planning, drafting and administering Special Needs Trusts. Dennis M. Sandoval is one of only nine estate planning attorneys who are members of the Special Needs Alliance and he is the only member in the Riverside County, and only one of nine members in all of California.
Dennis is also a charter member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners, a national organization working with professionals such as attorneys, financial planners, and trustees who specialize in working with families with children or grandchildren with special needs.
Requesting Presentations
If you are a member of a support organization for parents of children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Mental Illness, Multiple Sclerosis, and other disabilities, call us to have Dennis Sandoval give an educational presentation on Special Needs Trusts and other information sought by the members of these organizations.
Free Report
Call our Riverside office to request informational brochures and guidebooks about estate planning for persons with special needs or to request a copy of the Special Needs Alliance’s guide to administering a special needs trust.
Contact One of Our Special Needs Attorneys to Find Out How We Can Help
If you are the parent, grandparent, or caregiver of a child with special needs, creating a well thought out estate plan takes on a heightened importance. Naturally, you want to plan for the day when you will no longer be here to provide for your child. Careful estate planning, through the use of a Special Needs Trust, can ensure that the inheritance you wish to leave behind for your child will indeed be used for his or her care and maintenance without jeopardizing eligibility for much needed governmental assistance programs. To learn more about how you can include special needs planning in your Southern California estate plan, contact attorney Dennis M. Sandoval online or call our office at 951-888-1460 to schedule a consultation.
Visit One of Our Southern California Locations
With office locations throughout Southern California, Sandoval Legacy Group, a Division of Holstrom, Block & Parke, offers representation for Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning, Trust Administration, Probate, and Conservatorships in Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles County.
Contact us today or call our office at 951-888-1460 to schedule a consultation.
