Category Archives: Estate Planning

The answer depends on whether the trust allows disbursements for utilities. If it does, you may be allowed to make the payment but you need to consider the disbursement’s impact on the beneficiary’s government benefits such as SSI, Medicaid, or … Continue reading →

In addition to the general concerns of estate planning, families with minor children have additional reasons for creating a formal estate plan. First, parents want their children to be cared for by designated family members or close friends and need … Continue reading →

Through Survivor Benefit Plans (SBPs) members of the military can elect to defer a portion of their retirement pay so that when they pass away a surviving spouse or dependent child will receive up to 55 percent of their retirement … Continue reading →

“Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.” – Benjamin Franklin Many people think that estate plans are for someone else, not them. They may rationalize that they are too young or don’t have enough money to reap … Continue reading →

At the end of December 2014, Congress instituted a new type of savings account for people with disabilities who became disabled before they turned 26.  Called “529A” or “ABLE” accounts, these allow individuals and families to set aside up to … Continue reading →

Funds held in a properly drafted special needs trust will not affect a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid recipient’s benefits.  But problems can develop when funds come out of a special needs trust.  This leads to one of the … Continue reading →

Many disabled persons receive Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), Medicaid or other government benefits that provide basic food, shelter and/or medical care. The loved ones of the special needs beneficiaries may have been advised to disinherit them – beneficiaries who need … Continue reading →

Tip #1: Special needs beneficiaries require special planning.  As a society, we have come a long way since 1987 regarding stereotyping people with special needs and these individuals’ planning requirements, but there remain numerous misconceptions that often result in costly … Continue reading →