Special Education During COVID – What You Need to Know
This post was authored by Linda M. Gorczynski, Esq., of Hickman & Lowder Co. LPA, Cleveland, Ohio. She focuses her practice on special education law.
Special Needs Alliance Announces
2020 – 2021 Board of Directors
2022-04-14T10:52:39-04:00
Tucson, AZ – October 27, 2020 – The Special Needs Alliance (SNA) announced today its 2020 – 2021 Board of Directors. The SNA is a national organization of attorneys in the practice of special needs, disability and elder law. “We’re thrilled to have such talented and passionate individuals as our new board of directors,” [...]
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.
Disability Community Represents 20% of Voters
2024-12-04T08:41:21-05:00This post was authored by Jennifer L. Lile, CELA, of Krugliak, Wilkins, Giffiths & Dougherty, L.P.A., Canton Ohio. She is president of the Special Needs Alliance (SNA) and focuses her practice on special needs planning, elder law, estate planning and probate law. Pew Research reports that Americans consider the upcoming election to be the most [...]
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
The Pitfalls of Paying Family Members to Provide Care
This article for The Voice® was written by Courtney L. Fletcher, Esq., of Springfield, Missouri. Courtney is an attorney in the Estate Planning Practice Group of Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown, P.C. and has been practicing law since 1995. Her practice area include special needs planning, estate planning and administration, probate, trust and elder law, guardianships/conservatorships and Veteran’s benefits. Courtney is a member of the Missouri Bar, past president of the Greene County Estate Planning Council, a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and a VA accredited attorney. She is a past director of the Missouri Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a past chairman of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association Probate & Trust Committee. She currently serves on the Elder Law Committee of the Missouri Bar and is also a member of the Estate, Trust and Elder Law Institute Planning Committee. Please visit her at www.cecb.com.
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
Nursing Home Visit Policies in Flux
2024-12-04T08:43:26-05:00This post was authored by Mary Alice Jackson, Esq., of Boyer & Boyer, Sarasota, Florida. She is a Special Needs Alliance (SNA) board member and focuses her practice on special needs planning, elder law and estate planning. She is Board Certified in Elder Law by the Florida Bar.
Be Alert to Covid-19 Scams
2024-12-04T08:46:05-05:00Rebecca S. Kueny, Kueny Law LLC, Salem, Oregon, focuses her practice on elder law, special needs planning and trust administration. She is committed to helping individuals with special needs live as independently as possible.
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 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.
Special Needs Trusts Do More than Protect Benefits
2024-12-04T08:47:46-05:00Bruce D. Reinoso, Esq., is Senior Counsel in the Family Wealth and Estate Planning Department of Woods Oviatt, Gilman, LLP, of Buffalo and Rochester, New York. He concentrates his practice in the areas of trusts, estates, estate planning and elder law. Too often, families planning to create a third party special needs trust (SNT) think [...]
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.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Is June 15th
2024-12-04T08:49:12-05:00This post was written by Emma Hemness, CELA, founding owner of Hemness Faller Elder Law, located in the Tampa Bay area in Brandon, Florida. She limits her law practice to elder law, estate planning and special needs planning, providing guidance to families with loved ones who are elderly and persons with disabilities. June 15th is [...]
Service Animals, Emotional Support Animals, and Individuals with Disabilities
2024-12-11T16:26:38-05:00This article for The Voice was written by Richard Kroll, Esq. of Rochester, New York, a member of the Special Needs Alliance. An attorney with 45 years of experience, his expertise is frequently sought by both individuals, and organizations in the special needs community. Richard is a self-described “cat-person.” Please visit him on the web at www.Kroll-LawOffice.com.
Understanding the Stimulus Check Program
2024-12-04T08:50:44-05:00This post was co-authored by Tara Anne Pleat, Esq., and Edward V. Wilcenski, Esq., of Wilcenski Pleat Law, with offices in Clifton Park and Queensbury, New York. Tara’s practice includes special needs planning and administration, traditional estate planning and elder law. Ed, who is a past president of the Special Needs Alliance, focuses on special needs planning, elder law, and estate planning.
Roundup: Special Ed and Coronavirus/ Coping with Early Dementia/Standalone Special Needs Trusts
2024-12-04T08:52:48-05:00SNA 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 [...]
Mental Illness Is the Most Common Disability
2024-12-04T08:54:16-05:00This post was authored by Elena Lidrbauch, CELA, of Hickman & Lowder Co. LPA, Cleveland, Ohio. Her practice focuses on issues affecting persons with disabilities and older individuals, including special needs planning, guardianship and estate planning. In addition to her law degree, she has an M.Ed in rehabilitation counseling. Prior to practicing law, she spent [...]
Nursing Home Visitation Guidelines Cause Concern
2024-12-04T08:55:45-05:00This post was authored by Kim Dayton, Esq., Professor Emerita at the William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota. Her areas of interest include disability rights, parenting an adult child on the autism spectrum, and end-of-life decision-making. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), a federal agency with [...]
Isolation Tips for Families with Special Needs
2024-12-04T08:58:08-05:00This post was authored by Bryn Poland, Esq., of Mayo & Poland, PLLC, Baytown, Texas. She focuses her practice on special needs trust planning and administration, qualified settlement funds, and estate planning. She is a member of the Special Needs Alliance. Schools and day programs are suspended. Non-essential businesses are told to operate remotely. Families [...]