As the new year begins, many of us are filled with hope and a sense of possibility. New beginnings are always refreshing – but if we’re honest, sometimes a new year doesn’t feel all that new – especially when it comes to those who care for disabled loved ones on a regular basis. Thankfully, there’s…
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I Don’t Need a Special Needs Trust – Do I?
Many people believe that a special needs trust is only useful for parents of special needs children. While these parents and their children certainly do benefit from setting up a trust, many other situations can be helped by a special needs trust — most notably, when a disabled person possesses more than $2,000 in assets…
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What Will Happen to My Special Needs Child After My Death?
While it may be possible for your special needs child to live independently as an adult, you might be worried about what will happen to them after you die. If you’re not there to care for them and provide for them financially, how will they function? It’s a good question, and fortunately, Alabama Family Trust…
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What Is a Spendthrift Trust?
Estate planning is essential for families and single people alike, and a good estate plan includes effective asset protection measures. When it comes to your disabled loved one, you may want to consider a specific type of special needs trust called a “spendthrift trust.” But what is a spendthrift trust, and how could it be…
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How Large Can Gifts Be to a Special Needs Trust?
We’ve talked before about the complicated and misunderstood federal gift tax system, which places (very loose) limits on how much an individual can give away without having to pay a gift tax. Today, we’ll focus more on giving gifts specifically to special needs trusts – and in particular, on the size of those gifts. Do…
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Financial Predators: Protect Your Loved One
When it comes to your disabled child or aging parent, there are many financial considerations to be made every day. Paying for medical bills, transportation, and daily care is something that is probably always on your mind. But have you considered the financial predators that may be targeting your loved one? Keep reading to learn how to…
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We’re on the Cover of Birmingham Parent Magazine!
September 2016 – Alabama Family Trust is thrilled to announce that we are on the cover of the September issue of Birmingham Parent magazine! Our feature story focuses on planning for the future of your special needs child by setting up a special needs trust for them. We are so excited about this honor, and…
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How Does the Federal Gift Tax System Work?
When it comes to special needs planning, the federal gift tax system is a very misunderstood beast. The main reason for this is that it’s incredibly complicated, and so people end up thinking it works one way when it really doesn’t! Because it’s so hard to understand, a common misconception is that you can only…
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MORE Medicaid and Nursing Home Myths: BUSTED!
We’ve talked before about a few of the most common Medicaid and nursing home myths, and today, we’re back for more! Keep reading and make sure you know what is fact and what is fiction. Myth: If I give ANYTHING away, I am ineligible for Medicaid. Although this is not true, this particular area of…
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What Is the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program?
Because Medicaid is a costly government program, federal law requires that every state have a “Medicaid Estate Recovery Program.” That means that after your death, your survivors might have to pay back Medicaid out of your estate for certain services that were provided to you. Here, we’ll go into just a few of the details…
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