You may know that you need to set up a special needs trust for your disabled child, but once you start doing your research, you’ll find that there isn’t just one type of special needs trust. What about court-ordered trusts? What are they, and how are they useful? What Is a Court-Ordered Trust? In contrast…
Read More
A Mother’s Unexpected Gift
Jamie Bradford and her husband, Les, were thrilled to discover they were expecting their second child. Their firstborn, a cheerful, fun-loving boy, had already brought them so much joy — and now he would have a sibling! Whether it was a boy or a girl, Jamie and Les didn’t really care. Like most parents, they…
Read More
How Music Affects Children with Disabilities
Music is a powerful thing. Hearing a song from our high school days can instantly transport us back to those hallways and classrooms, bringing back faces and memories we haven’t thought of in years. For those who are musically inclined, spending time at a piano or with a guitar in hand can neutralize stress and…
Read More
Activities for Autism Awareness Month
Almost 25 years ago, the Autism Society initiated a national effort to promote autism awareness. One of their main goals was to ensure that people with autism had the opportunity to live a full, high-quality life, just like anybody else. People with autism deserve to be embraced in schools and communities, and to be appreciated…
Read More
Why You Should Leave Assets to Your Disabled Children
When planning your estate involves considering a combination of healthy and disabled children, it can be tempting to avoid the complication of establishing a special needs trust for your disabled child. You may think it will be easier to simply leave all your assets to your healthy children, trusting them to use the funds as…
Read More
When Is a First-Party Special Needs Trust Useful?
If you’re the parent of a special needs child, you probably know how important it is to set up a special needs trust for his or her future care. And you probably also know that there are two different kinds of special needs trusts: first-party and third-party. While third-party trusts are generally recommended, there are…
Read More
Special Needs Trusts for Multiple Children
A family with one special needs child faces many challenges every day. But some families have more than one special needs child, which can make their daily lives exceedingly complicated — especially when it comes to finances. Government benefits like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are essential for these families, and although the parents…
Read More
Child Support for a Disabled Child
How Can the Child Receive Support and Get Needed Government Benefits? Divorce is almost always a stressful and difficult situation. When the couple has a child with a disability, divorce can be even more problematic; especially, if the child is an adult child and will require continuing support for life. If the parents contribute child…
Read More
Creating a Special Needs Trust for Your Minor Child
Many families with special needs children don’t think about creating a special needs trust fund for their child until the child reaches legal adulthood (usually 18 years old; 19 in Alabama). The logic behind this is that if the child doesn’t currently need government benefits like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), there’s no hurry…
Read More
Nursing Home Care Costs
For your loved ones who cannot properly care for themselves alone, a nursing home can be a safe, comfortable place for them to live. But how much do you know about nursing homes, and how can you plan for the possibility of using one? When asked, most people will say that long-term care planning…
Read More