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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Medicaid and Nursing Home Myths: BUSTED!
There are a lot of myths out there about Medicaid, nursing homes, and how one affects the other. So how can you separate fact from fiction? By consulting the experts at Alabama Family Trust, of course! When it comes to Medicaid, nursing homes, and protecting your loved one’s assets, we’re the ones to ask. Read…
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Why Is a Special Needs Trust Worth the Investment?
If you’ve done any amount of research on setting up a special needs trust, you’ve probably figured out that you can’t do it for free (and if you’ve found a source that says otherwise, run the other way before it’s too late!). You may be trying to think of ways to get around that expense…
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Using Special Needs Trust Funds to Purchase a Vehicle
Nearly everyone uses some form of transportation on a consistent basis, but the need for a safe, reliable vehicle is especially important for people with special needs. Government benefit programs such as Supplement Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid impose an asset ceiling as a condition of qualification, which is a major reason to set up…
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Choosing the Right Co-Trustee
When you set up a special needs trust for a loved one through Alabama Family Trust (with Alabama Family Trust serving as trustee), you’ll need to name one or more co-trustees. You may choose to fill this role yourself, but who will take over once you’re gone? This is a critical question, because if you’re…
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How Should Special Needs Trusts Be Worded?
A special needs trust is a specific type of trust fund for people with physical or mental disabilities, created with the unique needs and lifestyle of that person in mind. These trusts are made to ensure that the beneficiary does not lose any government benefits (like Medicaid or SSI) to which they are entitled. In…
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Who Can Set Up a Special Needs Trust?
Special needs trusts are important for your disabled loved one. They provide a source of funding for the beneficiary without endangering their eligibility for government benefits like Medicaid and SSI, allowing for supplemental financial support. But who, exactly, is allowed to set up a special needs trust? Can just anyone do it? The answer to…
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