Estate planning for families who have children with special needs is similar to general family estate planning. The key, however, is to make sure that any funds or other assets put aside for a child or adult who is receiving, or could receive, governmental benefits (ex. Medicaid) are placed in a “Supplemental Needs Trust”, or “SNT”, rather than given outright or placed in a disqualifying trust. A receipt of assets by a person receiving government benefits could jeopardize those benefits.

Originally published in Lloyd Harbor Life - April 2019.