A special or supplemental needs trust is a tool that can be used to care for loved ones who may have special needs or are on a fixed income, such as a government disability program. A special needs trust is a special kind of trust that allows a person to receive an inheritance without being disqualified from certain income-restricted government programs, such as SSI (Supplemental Security Income).

If you are considering including loved ones in your estate who are, or in the future are likely to be, on an income-restricted government program such as SSI or Medicaid, you should discuss including a special needs trust for that person in your estate plan.

My office often fields calls from people who are on SSI or Medicaid and who have just heard the news that they are receiving an inheritance. They are calling to ask if there is anything they can do to set up a special needs trust after the fact because they will lose their benefits as a result of the inheritance. Sadly, a special needs trust cannot be set up retroactively, and proper advanced planning is vital to avoiding these situations.

If you are seeking legal assistance with adoption, estate planning, probate, real estate transactions, business law, bankruptcy or debt settlement, please don't hesitate to reach out to the experienced team at Limitless Law PLLC. We're here to help.

Call 360-685-0145 or click here to learn more.