Ten Reasons to Use a Stand-Alone Supplemental Needs Trust

This issue of The Voice® was written by Special Needs Alliance member Amelia Crotwell, CELA, the founding partner of the firm Elder Law of East Tennessee, PLLC, in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she helps clients with Life Care Planning, special needs trust planning, and estate planning.  She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law.  She teaches Elder Law at her alma matter and she serves as the President of the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association.  Her website is www.elderlawetn.com.

2021-01-19T11:39:49-05:00
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What is a special needs trust anyway?

This issue of the Voice was written by Special Needs Alliance member Lisa Nachmias Davis, CELA, a partner in the New Haven, Connecticut law firm of Davis O’Sullivan & Priest, LLC. Ms. Davis helps clients with estate planning, setting up or administering special needs trusts, qualifying for public benefits, and probate and estate settlement; she also represents charities and other nonprofit organizations. Her website is sharinglaw.net.

2021-01-19T09:38:08-05:00
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Special Needs Beneficiaries Can Be Explicitly Included in Estate Planning

This article for The Voice® was written by Mark B. Heffner, CELA, a graduate of Harvard College and Boston College Law School. He is the principal of Heffner & Associates, a firm with offices in Warwick and Barrington, Rhode Island, focusing since 1992 on elder law, special needs planning, and estate planning. Mark is a Certified Elder Law Attorney, and became a member of the Special Needs Alliance in 2004. He can be found at www.hefflaw.com

2021-01-22T15:25:52-05:00
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What, Where, Why, and When must a Special Needs Trust Be Reported to Government Agencies?

This article for The Voice® was written by Emily B. Kile, Esq. of Scottsdale, Arizona. Emily is a partner at Kile & Kupiszewski Law Firm, LLC. Emily has been practicing law since 1993.  She is a member of the Special Needs Alliance. Her practice areas include special needs planning, probate, trust administration, long term care planning and guardianship/conservatorship matters.  Emily is also a licensed fiduciary. She serves as Trustee, Conservator and Financial Agent for individuals. Emily is a past chairperson for the Elder Law, Mental Health & Special Needs Planning section of the State Bar of Arizona. Please visit her at: www.kilekuplaw.com

2021-01-11T11:28:16-05:00
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Customizable Visa Card Offers Flexibility to Beneficiaries

This installment of The Voice was written by Special Needs Alliance member Stephen W. Dale, Esq., founder of The Dale Law Firm, PC, in Pacheco, California. His practice focuses on estate planning, and he is an ardent advocate for disability rights. He is a frequent national speaker on a wide range of disability topics, and has received both the Powley Award and Theresa Foundation Award in recognition of his work on behalf of individuals with special needs. He is a board member with the Arc of California, a trustee with the Golden State Pooled Trust, and legal counsel for True Link Financial.

Customizable Visa Card Offers Flexibility to Beneficiaries

2021-01-11T11:27:29-05:00
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Customizable Visa Card Aids Financial Independence

This installment of The Voice was written by Special Needs Alliance member Stephen W. Dale, Esq., founder of The Dale Law Firm, PC, in Pacheco, California. His practice focuses on estate planning, and he is an ardent advocate for disability rights. He is a frequent national speaker on a wide range of disability topics, and has received both the Powley Award and Theresa Foundation Award in recognition of his work on behalf of individuals with special needs. He is a board member with the Arc of California, a trustee with the Golden State Pooled Trust, and legal counsel for True Link Financial.

2021-01-11T11:27:20-05:00
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Special Needs Planning Benefits All Siblings

This edition of the Voice is written by Benjamin A. Rubin, Esq., LLM, a partner in Rubin Law, with offices in Buffalo Grove, Chicago and Old Orchard, Illinois. The firm focuses exclusively on serving the families of children and adults with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities and mental illness. Having a brother with autism, among other significant disabilities, has profoundly shaped who Benjamin is today, including the type of law he chose to practice.

2021-01-11T11:26:58-05:00
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Roundup: Special Ed and Coronavirus/ Coping with Early Dementia/Standalone Special Needs Trusts

SNA attorneys have ongoing involvement with the wide-ranging issues faced by individuals with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them. Here is a sampling from member blogs and newsletters… Defining a Student’s Legal Rights to Special Ed During COVID-19 With coronavirus isolating families at home, how will special ed students receive the services so important [...]

2021-06-21T05:49:17-04:00
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Taxes Can Get Complicated for Families with Special Needs

This post was authored by Robert F. Brogan, CELA, president of the Brogan Law Group, with offices in Brick and Manchester, New Jersey. He focuses on special needs planning, elder law and asset protection. He is a member of the SNA Board of Directors. It’s time to think about taxes, which can be complicated for families [...]

2021-09-29T10:09:33-04:00
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Should a Special Needs Trust Pay for Medical Marijuana?

The Voice is the e-mail newsletter of The Special Needs Alliance. This installment was written by Special Needs Alliance member Kyle Moore, Esq., who practices with the law firm of Weems, Schimpf, Haines, Shemwell & Moore, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He focuses on special needs planning, elder law and estate planning.

Requirements for Reprinting this Article: The below article may be reprinted only if it appears unmodified, including both the author description above the title and the "About this Newsletter" paragraph immediately following the article, accompanied by the following statement: "Reprinted with permission of the Special Needs Alliance - www.specialneedsalliance.org."

2021-01-11T11:20:57-05:00
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Is Self-Employment Right for You?

This post was co-authored by John S. Kitchen, Esq., and Janet Lowder, CELA. John has law offices in Auburn and Laconia, New Hampshire. His practice areas include special needs trusts (SNTs), powers of attorney, wills and revocable trusts for individuals who have a family member or friend with disabilities. Janet’s firm is headquartered in Cleveland, with several other offices throughout the state. She focuses on estate planning for the elderly and for individuals with special needs and is recognized for her knowledge of Medicaid.

2021-01-14T16:39:42-05:00Tags: |
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Preserving SSI When Divorcing Parents Have a Child with Disabilities

The Voice is the email newsletter of The Special Needs Alliance. This installment was written by Special Needs Alliance member, Lee M. Holmes, CELA, of Holmes, Holmes and Neisent, PLLC in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The law firm’s practice focuses on planning for persons with disabilities, estate planning, Medicaid and elder law. Lee is a founding member and fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, a certified elder law attorney (CELA), is listed in Best Lawyers in America and has been designated an Oklahoma Super Lawyer.

2021-01-14T16:13:10-05:00
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Call to Action! Ask Federal Legislators to Co-Sponsor Bills Benefiting People with Disabilities

The Special Needs Alliance and other prominent advocacy groups have long supported two pieces of legislation that would greatly benefit individuals with disabilities. Now we're asking you to help sign up additional co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The Special Needs Trust Fairness Act (H.R. 2123/S.1672) This bipartisan legislation was introduced in [...]

2021-01-22T16:03:50-05:00
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How In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) Affects Benefits

By Martha C. Brown, CELA Special needs trusts (SNTs) are established to supplement the benefits that individuals with disabilities receive from government programs, such as Medicaid and SSI (Supplemental Security Income). They protect funds intended to enhance quality of life without rendering the beneficiary ineligible for means-tested benefits. Since SSI is meant to cover food [...]

2021-01-11T11:18:33-05:00
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Selecting a Trustee – Some Things to Consider

Parents and grandparents often have a pretty good sense of when they may want to create a special needs trust ("SNT") for their child or grandchild with atypical needs. They also understand, perhaps after discussion, when their family's circumstances warrant a need for money management, or if an inheritance will jeopardize essential means-tested government benefits, like SSI or Medicaid. In meeting with a special needs attorney, Clark and Cathy explained that Sara, their daughter with developmental delays, would be unable to manage her own inheritance. The question they had not fully considered was, "Who should hold that job after they are gone?"

2021-01-11T11:17:48-05:00
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Roundup: Decisions for Minors/Aid & Attendance/SNT Cost-Benefit

SNA attorneys have ongoing involvement with the wide-ranging issues faced by individuals with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them. Below is a sampling from member blogs and newsletters… Who Can Make Decisions for a Minor Child with Special Needs? In these days of blended families, who can represent the interests of a [...]

2021-04-12T06:28:50-04:00
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