Comprehensive Guide to Special Needs Planning for Adults in Forest Hills, Tennessee
Special needs planning for adults is an essential part of estate planning for families in Forest Hills. This planning helps families protect the financial security, housing, and care of an adult with disabilities while preserving eligibility for government benefits. Our firm assists clients with clear, practical strategies for drafting wills, establishing trusts, and assigning durable powers of attorney and healthcare directives tailored to an adult with disabilities. We guide families through options that balance long term care needs and benefit rules so that guardians, trustees, and loved ones can carry out a plan with confidence and clarity.
Starting special needs planning can feel overwhelming, but early planning reduces future uncertainty and helps ensure continuity of care. For adults living in Forest Hills or elsewhere in Davidson County, planning can address housing, supplemental income, medical decision making, and transition to community supports. We focus on creating documents and structures that reflect each family’s priorities while preventing unintended loss of benefits. Clear communication, careful documentation, and coordination with care providers and benefits counselors form the backbone of an effective plan for an adult with disabilities and their family network.
Why Special Needs Planning Matters for Adult Family Members
Proper special needs planning preserves government benefits that adults with disabilities rely on while allowing families to provide additional support through legal arrangements such as supplemental trusts. This planning minimizes the risk that gifts or inheritance will disqualify benefit eligibility, provides clear instructions for decision makers, and helps ensure access to needed services over the long term. A thoughtful plan also reduces family conflict by documenting intentions and responsibilities, and helps coordinate financial, medical, and living arrangements to promote stability and dignity for the adult who needs support.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach to Special Needs Planning
Jay Johnson Law Firm assists families across Tennessee with estate planning and elder law matters, including special needs planning for adults. Our approach centers on understanding each family’s circumstances and designing straightforward legal tools that integrate with available benefits and care options. We explain complex rules in plain language, coordinate with financial planners or social workers as needed, and prepare documents that work in real life. Clients benefit from focused attention, timely communications, and practical planning that anticipates future needs while protecting the adult’s quality of life and access to services.
Understanding Special Needs Planning for Adult Loved Ones
Special needs planning for adults involves more than a will. It examines public benefit eligibility, potential sources of financial support, healthcare decision making, and living arrangements. Common tools include third party supplemental needs trusts, pooled trusts, durable powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives, and carefully drafted wills that avoid disqualifying gifts. Planning also considers guardianship alternatives and strategies to preserve Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income when necessary. The goal is to provide sustainable support that complements rather than replaces public benefits while maintaining the adult’s legal rights and dignity.
Each adult’s situation is unique, so effective planning starts with a detailed review of income, assets, anticipated care needs, and current benefits. Families often need help determining how an inheritance or family gift should be structured to prevent benefit disruption. We also address how to name decision makers and trustees who will act in the adult’s best interest. Regular reviews and updates are important as circumstances change, so a plan remains aligned with legal rules, care arrangements, and the family’s evolving goals.
What Special Needs Planning Means in Practical Terms
Special needs planning refers to legal and financial arrangements designed to protect the long term well being of an adult with disabilities while preserving eligibility for public benefits. That includes drafting trust instruments to hold supplemental funds, creating power of attorney and healthcare directives for decision making, and structuring asset transfers to avoid benefit loss. The planning process also includes educating family members about how benefits work and how to coordinate private support with public programs. The practical result is a clear, durable roadmap for managing finances, healthcare choices, and living arrangements.
Key Elements and Steps in Special Needs Planning for Adults
A robust plan typically includes careful asset review, selection of an appropriate trust vehicle, designation of fiduciaries, drafting of durable powers for financial and medical decisions, and consideration of guardianship or supported decision arrangements if needed. The process also often involves coordinating with benefit counselors to confirm eligibility rules, drafting clear instructions for trustees, and preparing contingency plans for changes in health or living arrangements. Periodic reviews ensure the plan adapts to changes in law, benefits, and family circumstances, keeping protections intact over time.
Key Terms and Definitions for Special Needs Planning
Understanding certain terms helps families make informed decisions. This glossary covers common concepts used in special needs planning so you can better evaluate options and communicate with advisors, caregivers, and family members. Clear definitions reduce confusion when discussing trusts, benefits, and decision making responsibilities, enabling better planning outcomes. Familiarity with these terms supports thoughtful choices about legal structures, fiduciary roles, and benefit coordination that protect the adult’s financial and personal welfare.
Supplemental Needs Trust
A supplemental needs trust is a legal arrangement that holds funds for the benefit of an adult with disabilities without replacing or diminishing eligibility for means tested benefits. The trust provides for needs that public programs do not cover, such as certain therapies, recreational activities, and personal items that enhance quality of life. A trustee manages the assets according to the beneficiary’s needs, and distributions are made to supplement rather than supplant government benefits. The trust terms and administration must comply with applicable benefit program rules to maintain eligibility.
Durable Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney is a document that appoints a trusted person to handle financial affairs for an adult if they become unable to manage their own finances. The document remains effective even if the principal later becomes incapacitated, provided it is executed according to state law. It can be tailored to grant specific authorities, such as bill paying or managing investments, and to include safeguards and instructions for how the agent should act. Naming a reliable agent and providing clear instructions helps avoid disruption in financial matters.
Advance Healthcare Directive
An advance healthcare directive records a person’s medical care preferences and designates someone to make medical decisions if the individual cannot do so. It covers treatment choices, life sustaining measures, and preferences for long term care or placement. The directive helps healthcare providers and family members follow the adult’s wishes while relieving decision makers of uncertainty about proper care. Reviewing and updating the directive as health situations or preferences change ensures it remains aligned with current wishes.
Pooled Trust
A pooled trust is maintained by a nonprofit organization that pools resources from multiple beneficiaries for investment and administration while keeping individual subaccounts for each beneficiary. This option can be appropriate for adults who need a trust but whose families prefer a communal administration structure to lower costs. Funds in pooled trusts may be used to supplement public benefits, and the nonprofit trustee handles distributions, reporting, and compliance with program rules. Each pooled trust operates under specific terms set by the managing organization and state regulations.
Comparing Limited vs Comprehensive Special Needs Planning Options
Families may choose a limited planning approach that addresses a single issue or a comprehensive plan that coordinates multiple documents and strategies. A limited approach can be appropriate for straightforward circumstances, such as making a single gift into a trust or updating a power of attorney. A broader approach is more appropriate when multiple assets, complex benefits, or long term care needs must be coordinated. Understanding the differences helps families decide how much planning is needed to protect benefits, provide for supplemental care, and minimize future legal complications.
When a Targeted or Limited Plan May Be Appropriate:
Single Issue or Short Term Needs
A limited planning approach can work when needs are narrow and foreseeable, such as arranging funds for a specific therapy, modifying a single asset transfer, or updating a power of attorney. For families whose circumstances are stable and who do not anticipate major changes in benefits or care requirements, making a targeted adjustment can provide the necessary protection without a full plan. It is important to verify that the limited action will not unintentionally affect benefit eligibility, so even focused measures benefit from careful review and appropriate documentation.
Low Asset or Simple Benefit Situations
Families with minimal additional assets and uncomplicated benefit situations may be well served by targeted steps like drafting a beneficiary designation or creating a small supplemental trust. When resources and needs can be addressed through a few clear actions, a limited plan provides practical protection without unnecessary complexity. However, limited plans should still be coordinated with benefit rules and documented carefully to avoid future misunderstandings or eligibility problems. Periodic review is still recommended to ensure the approach remains appropriate over time.
Why a Comprehensive Special Needs Plan Often Makes Sense:
Multiple Assets and Complex Benefits
A comprehensive approach is advisable when families manage multiple assets, potential inheritances, or complex benefit interactions that require careful coordination. Combining trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives with benefit planning helps prevent unintended disqualification from programs like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income. The comprehensive plan also addresses succession of fiduciaries, contingencies for changes in living arrangements, and long term funding strategies, ensuring the adult’s needs are met while assets are preserved and managed responsibly over time.
Long Term Care and Transition Planning
When an adult with disabilities is likely to need changing levels of care or residential transitions over time, a comprehensive plan helps families anticipate and manage those shifts. Planning can coordinate financial support, housing arrangements, and medical decision making to maintain continuity of care. It also provides clear roles for trustees and decision makers during transitional periods. By addressing future contingencies up front, families can reduce stress during difficult times and maintain a consistent support structure for the adult’s evolving needs.
Benefits of a Comprehensive Special Needs Planning Strategy
A comprehensive strategy offers a unified framework that protects benefits, clarifies responsibilities, and provides for long term supplemental support. It reduces the chance of accidental disqualification from public programs and ensures funds intended for the adult are used appropriately. Additionally, a complete plan documents instructions for medical and financial decision makers, helping reduce family disputes. By addressing immediate and future needs together, the plan promotes stability and predictability for both the adult and their caregivers under changing circumstances.
Comprehensive planning also streamlines administration when a trustee or agent must act, because it provides clear legal authority and written instructions for common scenarios. This clarity helps service providers and benefits administrators understand the structure, simplifying approval and access to services. Coordinated planning makes it easier for families to integrate private support with public programs while preserving assets intended for supplemental needs, ensuring the adult retains access to necessary care and resources across their lifetime.
Preserving Public Benefits While Providing Additional Support
One major benefit of a comprehensive plan is the ability to provide supplemental support without jeopardizing eligibility for means tested benefits. Trusts and properly structured gifts can supply funds for activities, therapies, and items not covered by public programs while keeping the adult qualified for core healthcare and income supports. This dual approach allows families to maintain a higher quality of life for their loved one while ensuring access to essential services, which can be particularly important for long term stability and predictable care coordination.
Clear Decision Making and Reduced Family Burden
A second significant benefit is having predefined decision makers and documented instructions for both financial and health related choices. This organization reduces stress and confusion in times of crisis and helps family members carry out the adult’s wishes. Clear fiduciary roles and step by step directives ease administrative burdens on caregivers, allowing them to focus on day to day care rather than legal questions. Proper planning therefore supports both practical administration and the adult’s dignity and preferences.
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Practical Tips for Special Needs Planning
Start Planning Early and Review Regularly
Begin special needs planning well before a crisis occurs so documents can be carefully considered and coordinated with existing benefits. Early action gives families time to research trust options, identify trusted fiduciaries, and work with benefits counselors to avoid disqualifying transfers. Regular reviews are important because changes in benefits rules, health status, or family circumstances can alter what is required. Periodic check ins ensure that the plan remains effective and aligned with the adult’s needs, reducing the risk of unintended consequences down the road.
Coordinate with Benefits Counselors and Care Providers
Choose Trustees and Agents Thoughtfully
Selecting trustees and agents for powers of attorney requires careful thought about reliability, availability, and understanding of the adult’s needs and values. Consider naming secondary or successor fiduciaries, and provide written guidance to help them act consistently with your preferences. Trustees should be capable of managing finances responsibly and communicating with care providers, while healthcare agents should understand the adult’s medical wishes. Thoughtful selection and clear instructions reduce the likelihood of disputes and make administration smoother when action is needed.
Why Families in Forest Hills Choose Special Needs Planning
Families pursue special needs planning to protect public benefits, preserve family resources for supplemental care, and set up a trusted decision making structure for when the adult cannot act independently. Planning also clarifies how assets will be used for housing, therapies, transportation, and personal goods, which are often not covered by government programs. This proactive approach reduces uncertainty, ensures continuity of care, and documents family intentions so that loved ones can manage finances and healthcare with confidence during difficult transitions.
Another reason to plan is to reduce potential conflict among relatives by documenting roles, responsibilities, and distribution plans. A carefully drafted plan can address contingencies, name successor fiduciaries, and provide instructions for future changes in needs or funding. Families also benefit from a coordinated approach that aligns legal tools with medical, housing, and financial supports, making it easier to access community resources and maintain a stable living situation that honors the adult’s preferences and dignity.
Common Situations That Lead Families to Seek Special Needs Planning
Families often seek special needs planning when an adult’s condition changes, when parents or caregivers age, upon receipt of an inheritance, or when transitioning from pediatric to adult services. Other triggers include changes in housing needs, the need to qualify for Medicaid, or wanting to leave supplemental funds without disrupting benefits. These situations call for legal planning to protect eligibility, designate decision makers, and ensure financial resources are available to meet the adult’s ongoing needs without creating administrative or legal complications.
Change in Beneficiary or Inheritance
An unexpected inheritance or a decision to name an adult with disabilities in an estate can put benefits at risk unless funds are structured properly. Families may use trusts or alternative beneficiary designations to accept funds without disqualifying public assistance. Planning in advance helps prevent sudden loss of benefits and ensures that any additional support enhances the adult’s quality of life rather than causing unintended harm. Legal guidance helps align distribution methods with benefits rules and family objectives.
Caregiver Retirement or Declining Health
When a primary caregiver ages or becomes unable to provide care, families must plan for succession, housing changes, and continuation of services. Legal documents naming successors and providing financial resources for transition can prevent disruption in care. Advance planning also addresses how to transfer responsibilities to other family members or professional caregivers and ensures the adult’s needs remain met during periods of transition. Coordinating these steps ahead of time reduces stress and provides a stable path forward.
Changing Medical or Living Needs
If an adult’s medical needs or living situation changes, planning can adjust financial supports, update healthcare directives, and modify trust distributions to reflect new priorities. Changes may require different housing, increased therapy, or new medical oversight, and a plan that anticipates adjustments helps families respond quickly and effectively. Documenting preferred living arrangements and medical care priorities helps caregivers and providers make decisions aligned with the adult’s wellbeing and long term goals.
Forest Hills Special Needs Planning Attorney
Jay Johnson Law Firm serves families in Forest Hills and surrounding communities with practical special needs planning services tailored to adult care. We help design trusts and documents, coordinate with benefits counselors, and provide clear written instructions for trustees and agents. Our focus is on building plans that protect benefits, preserve funds for supplemental needs, and create a stable framework for decision making. We welcome inquiries from local families seeking thoughtful, well organized legal planning to protect an adult with disabilities.
Why Choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for Special Needs Planning
Clients work with our firm because we prioritize clear communication and practical solutions that address both legal and everyday needs. We listen to each family’s situation and design documents that integrate with public benefits and care plans. Our approach emphasizes straightforward guidance and durable documents that trustees and agents can use confidently, reducing ambiguity during stressful times and supporting consistent care for the adult.
We place importance on coordinating with other professionals such as care managers, financial advisors, and benefits counselors so that legal tools function smoothly in practice. This collaborative approach helps avoid surprises and ensures that distributions and decisions follow both legal requirements and the adult’s care plan. Our goal is to create a plan that is both legally sound and practically workable for family members and service providers.
Families also value our attention to detail and commitment to regular plan reviews to keep documents current as laws and circumstances change. We help clients prepare contingency plans, name successors, and provide guidance to trustees and agents to ease administration. Our services aim to give families confidence that the adult’s needs will be managed responsibly and compassionately over the long term.
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How Special Needs Planning Works at Our Firm
Our process begins with a comprehensive intake to understand the adult’s needs, current benefits, assets, and family goals. We then outline recommended documents and trust structures, explain the implications for benefits, and coordinate with other advisors as needed. After your approval, we prepare and review the documents with your input, finalize signings, and provide guidance for trustees and agents on administration. We also schedule periodic reviews to update the plan as circumstances change.
Step 1: Initial Consultation and Information Gathering
During the initial phase we collect detailed information about the adult’s benefits, income, assets, medical needs, and current caregivers. We identify potential eligibility issues and gather documents such as benefit statements and property records. This information helps us recommend appropriate trust vehicles and decision making arrangements. A careful intake allows us to design a plan tailored to the adult’s needs and to anticipate areas requiring coordination with other professionals.
Review of Benefits and Financial Snapshot
We analyze benefits eligibility, including Medicaid and income based programs, along with a financial snapshot of assets and potential future income. This review highlights actions that could affect eligibility and informs recommendations for trusts or transfers. Understanding the full financial picture helps us devise strategies that preserve benefits while providing supplemental support when appropriate. Clear assessments reduce the risk of unintended disqualification from essential programs and guide practical planning choices.
Discussion of Care Needs and Family Priorities
We spend time learning about the adult’s daily needs, medical preferences, housing considerations, and family priorities for long term care. This discussion shapes the plan’s goals and helps inform trustee and agent selection, as well as the types of trust distributions that will be most useful. Aligning legal instruments with personal values and care needs ensures that the plan supports quality of life and practical daily concerns for the adult and the family.
Step 2: Plan Design and Document Preparation
Once goals and constraints are clear, we develop a recommended plan that may include a supplemental needs trust, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and supporting documents. We explain how each component works and how they interact with public benefits. Drafting focuses on clarity and compliance with Tennessee regulations, while also creating instructions for fiduciaries. We review drafts with the family to confirm that documents reflect their intentions and practical needs before finalizing.
Drafting Trusts and Supporting Documents
Trust drafting addresses distribution terms, trustee duties, and spending priorities tailored to the adult’s lifestyle and care needs. Supporting documents such as powers of attorney designate decision makers and provide authority for financial and healthcare matters. Drafts include practical provisions to guide trustees in making discretionary distributions that enhance quality of life while preserving benefits. Clear drafting reduces ambiguity and helps trustees administer the trust consistently with the family’s goals.
Coordinating with Other Advisors and Final Review
Before finalizing, we coordinate with benefits counselors, financial planners, and care providers as needed to ensure the plan functions effectively in practice. This collaboration can resolve potential conflicts and confirm that documents mesh with service plans and eligibility rules. A final review with the family confirms details, addresses any remaining questions, and prepares trustees and agents for their responsibilities after execution. Documentation is then completed and signed in accordance with legal requirements.
Step 3: Execution, Implementation, and Ongoing Review
After documents are signed, we assist with implementation steps such as funding trusts, updating beneficiary designations, and providing guidance to fiduciaries and care coordinators. We also recommend regular reviews to confirm the plan remains appropriate as laws, benefits, or family situations change. Ongoing support helps families adjust distributions, appoint successor fiduciaries, and maintain compliance with benefit programs so the adult’s needs continue to be met effectively.
Funding the Plan and Trustee Orientation
Funding the trust and transferring assets according to the plan are essential to make arrangements effective. We guide families through titling, beneficiary updates, and practical steps to ensure funds and assets are available for the trust administrator. Trustee orientation includes explaining distribution guidelines, record keeping, and interactions with benefit agencies so that trustees can manage resources responsibly and in a way that aligns with the adult’s best interests and the family’s expectations.
Periodic Reviews and Updates
Periodic reviews help maintain the value and integrity of the plan as circumstances evolve. We recommend reviewing documents after major life events, changes in benefits rules, or shifts in the adult’s medical needs. Updates can include revising trustee designations, adjusting distribution language, or modifying healthcare directives to reflect current wishes. Regular check ups ensure the plan continues to meet practical needs and remains aligned with legal and programmatic requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Planning for Adults
What is special needs planning and why does my adult family member need it?
Special needs planning is a set of legal and financial strategies designed to protect the long term wellbeing of an adult with disabilities while preserving eligibility for means based programs. It includes tools such as supplemental trusts, durable powers of attorney, and healthcare directives that work together to manage finances, make medical decisions, and provide supplemental support. The aim is to ensure stability and continuity of care while preventing actions that might unintentionally disqualify the adult from programs like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income.Families benefit from planning because it creates clear roles and documented instructions for trustees and decision makers. By setting up appropriate trusts and directives, you can protect public benefits, make supplemental funds available for quality of life expenses, and provide a roadmap for caregivers and fiduciaries. Early and coordinated planning reduces stress and helps preserve resources for the adult’s long term needs.
How does a supplemental needs trust protect government benefits?
A supplemental needs trust is drafted so that trust assets are used to pay for goods and services that public programs do not cover, without being counted as the beneficiary’s personal assets for means tested eligibility. The trust is managed by a trustee who makes discretionary distributions for supplemental needs, such as therapies, transportation, or recreation, while the beneficiary retains access to healthcare and income supports. Proper drafting and administration in line with applicable rules is essential to maintaining eligibility for benefits.The trustee must understand how distributions interact with benefit rules and avoid direct cash distributions that could be treated as countable income. Coordination with benefits counselors and careful record keeping are key parts of preserving eligibility. Establishing a trust with clear terms and guidelines helps ensure supplemental support is available without jeopardizing core benefits.
Can I leave money directly to an adult who receives benefits?
Direct gifts or inheritances to an adult who receives means based benefits can affect eligibility because counts of personal assets and income determine qualification. A large gift placed directly into the beneficiary’s name may push total assets above allowable limits and result in loss of benefits. To prevent this, families often use properly drafted trusts or alternative beneficiary designations that accept funds while preserving the adult’s benefit eligibility.Using a trust allows funds to be managed and disbursed in ways that supplement rather than replace benefits. Families should consult with counsel and benefits advisors before making transfers to verify the safest method for providing additional support without causing unintended eligibility consequences.
What is the difference between a pooled trust and an individual trust?
An individual supplemental needs trust is created and managed for a single beneficiary, with a trustee appointed to administer the funds according to specific terms. It provides highly tailored provisions for distributions and may be funded with family assets. A pooled trust is managed by a nonprofit that pools funds from many beneficiaries for investment and administrative efficiency while maintaining separate subaccounts for each person. Pooled trusts can be a cost effective option for families who prefer nonprofit administration and shared oversight.The right choice depends on the amount of assets involved, the family’s preferred level of control, and administrative considerations. Individual trusts offer more flexibility and customization, while pooled trusts may have lower costs and simplified administration. Both require review to ensure compliance with benefit program rules.
Who should I name as a trustee or agent for my adult relative?
When naming a trustee or agent, consider reliability, financial responsibility, availability, and familiarity with the adult’s needs and preferences. Trustees handle trust assets and make discretionary distributions, so they should be trustworthy and able to manage records and reporting. Healthcare agents should understand medical preferences and be comfortable communicating with providers. Selecting backup or successor fiduciaries ensures continuity if the initial designee becomes unable to serve.Families sometimes choose a trusted relative as trustee and pair that choice with professional assistance, or they use a nonprofit or trust provider for administration. Clear written guidance and an orientation for trustees and agents help them act in ways that align with the adult’s best interests and family goals.
How do powers of attorney and healthcare directives work in special needs planning?
A durable power of attorney allows a designated person to manage financial affairs if the adult becomes unable to do so. It remains effective if the principal loses capacity and can be tailored to grant specific authorities while imposing limits or conditions. An advance healthcare directive records medical treatment preferences and names an agent to make health related decisions if the adult cannot express choices. Both documents provide legal authority and guidance for decision makers during periods of incapacity.Together these instruments create a practical decision making framework for finances and care, reducing delays and uncertainty. They should be drafted to reflect the adult’s values and coordinated with trustees and caregivers so all responsible parties understand their roles and responsibilities when acting on behalf of the adult.
Will special needs planning affect my taxes?
Special needs planning can have tax implications depending on the assets involved, the trust structure, and how distributions are made. Some trusts have tax reporting requirements, and income generated by trust assets may be taxable. However, many planning techniques focus primarily on preserving benefits and providing supplemental care rather than tax avoidance. Consulting with a tax advisor familiar with trust taxation helps determine the best way to structure assets to meet both care and tax objectives.Families should consider the interplay between benefits planning and tax obligations when designing a plan. Proper trust drafting can address tax reporting and distribution rules, and coordination with financial advisors helps integrate tax planning with long term support goals, ensuring funds are used efficiently and in accordance with legal requirements.
How often should I review or update a special needs plan?
It is wise to review a special needs plan whenever there is a major life change, such as a change in health, a new inheritance, the death of a caregiver, or updates in benefits rules. Regular reviews every few years can also catch incremental changes in law or circumstances that affect eligibility or administration. Keeping documents current ensures continuity of care and that fiduciary appointments remain appropriate and available when needed.During reviews, families can update trustee designations, revise distribution language, and confirm that healthcare directives reflect current wishes. Periodic check ins also provide an opportunity to coordinate with new care providers or financial advisors and to make adjustments that keep the plan aligned with practical needs.
Can special needs planning help if my adult family member needs to move into long term care?
Special needs planning can facilitate transitions into long term care by arranging funding that supplements benefits, naming decision makers for financial and medical matters, and providing guidelines for housing and care preferences. Trusts can pay for services and supports not covered by public programs, and clear legal authority helps families act quickly when placement decisions are needed. Planning in advance reduces emergency decisions and provides a structured approach to finding suitable care options.Coordination with care managers and benefit counselors helps determine how changes in living arrangements will affect eligibility and what funding sources are available. A thoughtful plan addresses contingencies and ensures funds and authority are in place to support the adult during a move to a higher level of care.
How do I begin the special needs planning process with your firm?
To begin special needs planning with our firm, contact Jay Johnson Law Firm to schedule an initial consultation where we will discuss the adult’s needs, current benefits, assets, and family goals. Gather recent benefit statements, asset records, and any existing legal documents to help us assess the situation. During the consultation we outline recommended steps and explain how different trust and document options will affect benefits and care planning.After you authorize work, we draft documents tailored to your circumstances, coordinate with relevant advisors, and guide you through execution and funding steps. We also provide trustee orientation and schedule periodic reviews to keep the plan effective as circumstances change.