As the Covid-19 pandemic has swept across the nation and around the world, those of us who practice in the areas of Wills, Trusts and Estates have noted an increase in calls from clients alarmed by what they are seeing on the news and in their own neighborhoods. We typically field calls from clients interested
Mary Browning
Do Not Delay Putting Your Special Needs Planning In Place
We all want to provide the best for our children, but most of us do not want to face the task of putting an estate plan in place for when we are not here. The everyday demands of life put this planning on the back-burner, and when your family has special needs, those everyday demands…
Some Important Factors to Consider Before Creating a Special Needs Trust
A Third-Party Special Needs Trust (also referred to as a “Supplemental Needs Trust”) allows parents or other relatives of a special needs beneficiary to dedicate assets to the beneficiary by gift or inheritance without affecting his or her eligibility to receive government benefits and without any need for reimbursement of benefits that are provided by…
Individuals with Special Needs Can Now Create First Party Trusts
President Obama just signed a new law that allows First Party Special Needs Trusts to be established by mentally competent individuals for their own benefit. This is a major “fix” to the current law which only allows First Party Special Needs Trusts to be set up by a parent, grandparent, guardian or a court. For…
IRS Eases Administrative Oversight of ABLE Accounts
As discussed in earlier blog posts, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was signed into law in December 2014. Under the ABLE Act, a so-called ABLE account can be established for a disabled individual. The mechanics are very similar to 529 college savings plans. As opposed to saving for college, the ABLE account…