1. Special Needs Alliance
Stephen W. Dale, California
Janet Lowder, Ohio
Lance McKinney, Florida
Attorneys and Counselors at law

2. Special Needs Trusts – What Is Right For Your Loved One?
More and more attorneys with little or no experience with disabilities are drafting Special Needs Trusts
Putting together an estate plan that works requires a team effort
The Special Needs Trust document is only one piece of the puzzle

3. A Few Words about Trusts
A trust is a contract to accomplish some objective
Revocable Living Trusts are contracts to control property for a families lifetime, position assets to gain tax advantages, and avoid probate.
Charitable Remainder Trusts are contracts to give a donor a tax advantage and receive a stream of income.

4. A Few Words about Trusts
A trust is a contract to accomplish some objective
A Special Needs Trust is a mechanism for protecting resources for individuals with disabilities without sacrificing their government entitlements

5. A Few Words about Trusts
A trust is a contract to accomplish some objective
The standard Special Needs Trust focuses on public benefits alone.
The superior Special Needs Trust focuses on
Advocacy
Prevention of abuse and neglect
Has your loving instructions to provide for your loved ones needs in the event of your incapacity or death

6. Lack of Special Needs Planning
IMPACTS:
Government benefits
Quality of life
Contingent beneficiaries

7. Widespread Lack of Planning
Among parents of children with special needs:
68% have not written a will 53% have not identified a guardian 72% have not identified a trustee 88% have not established a special needs trust 84% have no written letter of intent

8. Many Special Needs Trust Don’t Work
Think about it – do you think a document alone is going to protect your disabled loved one?

9. Special Needs Attorney
“Team” approach
Working family, advocates and other professionals

10. Team Members Care and medical providers Person with special needs
Case manager
Insurance agent
Advocate
NAMI
Person with special needs
Family
Attorney
Trustee
Financial advisor
Accountant

11. Who is the Special Needs Alliance?
The Special Needs Alliance (SNA) is a national, not for profit organization of attorneys dedicated to the practice of disability and public benefits law. Individuals with disabilities, their families and their advisors rely on the SNA to connect them with nearby attorneys who focus their practices in the disability law arena.

12. Who is the Special Needs Alliance?
The SNA is an invitation-only organization.
SNA membership is based on a combination of relevant legal experience in the disability and elder law fields, direct family experience with disability, active participation with national, state and local disability advocacy organizations, and professional reputation.
As a result, an SNA member will have an average of 18 years of relevant legal experience, with no member having practiced law for less than 10 years.
The majority have been certified as Elder Law Attorneys (CELAs) by the National Elder Law Foundation, the certifying entity for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).

13. Where Do You Find a Special Needs Alliance Member in your Community?
www. specialneedsalliance.com

14. Where Do You Find a Special Needs Alliance Member in your Community?
www. specialneedsalliance.com

15. Where Do You Find a Special Needs Alliance Member in your Community?
www. specialneedsalliance.com

16. Where Do You Find a Special Needs Alliance Member in your Community?
www. specialneedsalliance.com

17. Where Do You Find a Special Needs Alliance Member in your Community?
www. specialneedsalliance.com

18. The Voice

19. The Voice

20. Special Needs Alliance Members
Partners in Estate Planning
Special Needs Trusts and Wills
Medicaid, SSI and Entitlement Program Eligibility
Estate, Trust and Tax Planning for Individuals with Disabilities and their Families
Financial Planning and Legal Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities
Conservatorship, Guardianship and Advance Directives
Assistance with Personal Injury/Medical Malpractice Settlements
Trust and Estate Distributions and Fiduciary Accountings
Estate and Trust Administration
Partners in Advocacy
Available to speak to your group on a variety of topics
Source of materials for newsletters (voice)
Planned Giving