A Special Needs Trust helps protect government benefits while providing supplemental support for a person with disabilities. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we work with families in Ione and Amador County to design trusts that preserve eligibility for Medi-Cal and other public programs while addressing everyday needs, medical expenses, and quality-of-life items. This page explains what a Special Needs Trust can accomplish, how it is structured, and the practical steps families take to implement a plan that honors their loved one’s needs and future care while complying with California law.
Choosing the right approach to a Special Needs Trust involves thoughtful planning about financial resources, future care, and coordination with public benefits. Our office provides personalized guidance to help families understand options like third-party trusts, first-party (self-settled) trusts, and pooled trusts, and the implications of each for eligibility, estate planning documents, and beneficiary management. We aim to clarify legal concepts, anticipate future circumstances, and prepare durable legal instruments that reflect your family’s goals for long-term support and stability in Ione and across California.
A well-drafted Special Needs Trust offers families a way to provide additional support for a loved one without jeopardizing access to public benefits. It addresses common concerns such as paying for extras beyond basic benefits, covering specialized therapies or equipment, and planning for long-term housing and care. Because benefits like Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income have strict asset and income limits, using a properly structured trust can preserve eligibility while ensuring funds are available when needed. Families gain peace of mind knowing they have a legal vehicle that balances public program rules with personal care objectives.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves families across California from our practice in San Jose, providing practical and thoughtful estate planning services including Special Needs Trusts. We focus on listening to each family’s priorities, reviewing financial circumstances and benefit eligibility, and preparing trust documents and related estate planning tools such as wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. Our goal is to create plans that are legally sound, easy to administer for caregivers or trustees, and adaptable as needs change over time for clients in Ione and the surrounding communities.
A Special Needs Trust is a legal arrangement that holds assets for the benefit of a person with a disability while aiming to preserve eligibility for means-tested public benefits. The trust is managed by a trustee who uses the funds for supplemental needs that public benefits do not cover, such as transportation, therapies, education, or quality-of-life expenses. Trusts can be funded during the lifetime of the grantor, through inheritance, or via settlement proceeds. Proper drafting is essential to meet statutory and program requirements and to avoid unintended impacts on benefit eligibility, so careful coordination with the individual’s benefit status and financial picture is important.
There are different types of Special Needs Trusts, each with unique rules and funding options. A third-party trust is funded by family members and does not require payback to public programs upon the beneficiary’s death. A first-party trust holds assets belonging to the person with disabilities and typically includes a requirement to reimburse Medi-Cal from remaining funds. Pooled trusts are managed by nonprofit organizations and can accept funds from many beneficiaries. Selecting the right structure depends on the source of funds, long-term goals, and coordination with state and federal benefit programs.
A Special Needs Trust is simply a legal tool that allows someone to receive and use resources without those assets being counted against eligibility limits for public benefit programs. The trust is carefully written so distributions enhance the beneficiary’s life in ways that public benefits do not cover, such as paying for mobility aids, enrichment activities, and respite care. Trustees act in the beneficiary’s interest and follow the trust’s instructions. The trust document also addresses successor trustees, management of investments, and priorities for spending so the funds last and are used as intended.
Important elements include the trust document itself, trustee appointment, funding sources, distribution standards, and coordination provisions for public benefits. Typical steps in creating a trust include assessing benefit eligibility, drafting a trust tailored to the individual’s needs, identifying appropriate trustees, and funding the trust through assets or estate planning instruments. Additional steps may include filing supporting estate documents such as a pour-over will, beneficiary designations, or certifications of trust. Ongoing administration requires recordkeeping, prudent investments, and periodic reviews to respond to changing needs or benefit rules.
Familiarity with a few common terms helps families make informed decisions. Terms like ‘third-party trust,’ ‘first-party trust,’ ‘pooled trust,’ ‘trustee,’ and ‘payback provision’ commonly appear in planning discussions. Understanding these definitions clarifies who controls funds, where assets come from, and whether government programs must be reimbursed. This section will define several of the most relevant terms and describe why they matter in planning, including how trust language can protect eligibility while allowing for discretionary distributions that improve a beneficiary’s quality of life.
A third-party Special Needs Trust is created and funded by someone other than the beneficiary, usually family members. These trusts are designed so that remaining assets at the beneficiary’s death are not required to reimburse government programs. Instead, funds can be distributed to other family members or charitable causes as specified in the trust. This type of trust is often used in estate plans to provide for a loved one with a disability while preserving public benefit eligibility and ensuring assets are available throughout the beneficiary’s lifetime for supplemental care and comfort.
A first-party Special Needs Trust holds assets that belong to the person with a disability, such as an inheritance or a personal injury settlement. California law allows these trusts but typically requires a payback provision to reimburse Medi-Cal for benefits paid on behalf of the beneficiary after the beneficiary’s death. These trusts must be carefully structured to meet statutory requirements and to ensure distributions remain consistent with benefit rules. They can be a valuable tool when the beneficiary has funds that would otherwise make them ineligible for needed public programs.
A pooled Special Needs Trust is managed by a nonprofit organization that pools and invests funds for many beneficiaries while keeping separate subaccounts for each individual. This arrangement can be an economical option for smaller amounts or for people who do not have family members available to manage a private trust. Pooled trusts often accept both first-party and third-party funds and provide professional management, administrative oversight, and distribution policies designed to support beneficiaries while respecting public benefit eligibility rules.
A payback provision is a term commonly included in first-party Special Needs Trusts that requires remaining trust assets be used to reimburse the state for Medi-Cal benefits provided to the beneficiary after their death. This requirement helps ensure that assets used for personal support during the beneficiary’s life do not permanently avoid reimbursement obligations. Understanding whether a trust requires payback and how much may be claimed by the state informs decisions about trust structure and estate distributions.
When evaluating trust options, families should consider funding sources, control over remaining assets, cost of administration, and how each choice affects public benefit eligibility. Third-party trusts generally offer the most flexibility with respect to leftover funds and avoid payback obligations. First-party trusts protect eligibility for someone who already has funds but require payback to Medi-Cal. Pooled trusts provide nonprofit management and may be more accessible for smaller amounts. Each path has trade-offs, and selecting the appropriate option depends on the family’s resources, long-term intentions, and the beneficiary’s unique needs.
A more limited planning approach can be suitable when the beneficiary has minimal additional financial needs beyond what public benefits provide, or when available funds are modest. In these situations, a pooled trust or carefully drafted third-party gift provisions in a will may offer an efficient way to provide supplemental support without the expense of a privately managed trust. Families should still document their intentions clearly and ensure beneficiary designations and estate planning documents coordinate with the trust strategy to avoid disqualifying assets or unintended outcomes.
If family members intend to leave small amounts or property to a person with disabilities, using estate tools like a pour-over will that directs assets to a pooled trust or includes language that protects benefit eligibility may be sufficient. Beneficiary designations and payable-on-death arrangements can also be coordinated to limit assets that pass directly to the beneficiary. Even when the plan is modest, legal drafting should ensure distributions do not inadvertently disqualify the beneficiary from receiving Medi-Cal or other critical programs, and provisions should identify a trusted fiduciary to oversee any funds.
A comprehensive approach is advisable when the beneficiary faces complex medical or long-term care needs, or when there are significant assets to manage. Comprehensive planning integrates the Special Needs Trust with a broader estate plan, including revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives, to coordinate distributions, successor arrangements, and funding sources. This holistic planning reduces the risk of conflicts, ensures the trustee can manage funds effectively, and provides a clear roadmap for family members and caregivers to follow over time.
When funds may come from different sources such as retirement accounts, life insurance, or personal savings, comprehensive planning helps structure gifts and beneficiary designations to protect benefits while ensuring long-term support. A complete plan anticipates potential future changes in care needs, supports transition planning for guardianship or supported decision-making if needed, and creates clear instructions for successor trustees. This proactive planning limits uncertainty, helps preserve public benefits, and provides the beneficiary with consistent support that aligns with family goals.
Comprehensive planning offers clarity and consistency for families, reduces the administrative burden on caregivers, and aligns asset management with the beneficiary’s long-term care needs. A coordinated plan ensures that trusts, wills, and powers of attorney work together so assets flow as intended and that the trustee has the legal authority to act. This integrated approach also anticipates future needs and allows for adjustments as circumstances change, which is particularly helpful when dealing with medical developments, housing transitions, or evolving benefit programs across California.
A holistic plan can also minimize dispute among family members by documenting decision-making authority and distribution guidelines, making administration smoother during difficult times. By setting clear priorities for spending trustee funds on supplemental needs and improving the beneficiary’s quality of life, families can be confident their resources are used according to their wishes. Comprehensive planning often includes provisions for successor trustees and oversight mechanisms that add stability and continuity for the beneficiary’s care and financial security.
A key benefit of a well-structured Special Needs Trust within a comprehensive plan is the ability to preserve eligibility for important public programs while providing discretionary funds for additional needs. Trust distributions can cover therapy, adaptive equipment, social activities, and other items that significantly improve daily life without affecting Medi-Cal or Supplemental Security Income eligibility. This targeted support makes it easier for families to supplement basic benefits and provide individualized care that reflects the recipient’s preferences and well-being.
Comprehensive planning creates a stable framework for managing financial resources, naming trusted fiduciaries, and setting clear distribution rules. It reduces the chance of administrative errors, conflicting instructions, or benefit disqualification, and it provides successors with a road map for continuing care. Such planning also helps families navigate changes over time, including when new benefits, treatments, or living arrangements arise, by allowing the trust and related documents to be reviewed and updated in a coordinated manner.
Begin planning by thoroughly reviewing current public benefit eligibility and anticipated changes. A clear understanding of how Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income, and other programs treat income and assets is necessary to determine the appropriate trust structure. Documenting current benefit status, recent notices, and income sources helps guide drafting choices and trustee instructions. Early coordination prevents unintended disqualification and ensures that available resources are allocated to enhance the beneficiary’s care while preserving essential government support over the long term.
Ensure wills, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other payable-on-death arrangements work in concert with the trust. Without coordination, assets could pass directly to the beneficiary and jeopardize eligibility for benefits. Using a pour-over will, titling assets appropriately, and naming the trust as a beneficiary where possible helps channel inheritances into the Special Needs Trust. Regular reviews ensure beneficiary designations and account titles continue to reflect the family’s intentions as laws and circumstances evolve.
Families often consider a Special Needs Trust when a loved one has ongoing medical needs, relies on public benefits for daily living, or is likely to receive an inheritance or settlement that would affect benefit eligibility. Trusts offer a means of supplementing care and providing for expenses that public programs do not cover, such as transportation, recreational activities, and therapies. Planning ahead helps maintain continuity of care, allows for thoughtful selection of trustees, and reduces the risk that an unexpected inheritance will disrupt a beneficiary’s access to critical supports.
A Special Needs Trust is also appropriate when parents or family members want to control how resources are used after they are gone. By creating clear instructions and appointing a capable trustee, families can ensure that funds are spent in ways that reflect the beneficiary’s needs and family values. Planning can include contingencies for future housing, assistive technologies, and services that improve the beneficiary’s quality of life while preserving access to Medi-Cal and other supports in California.
Typical situations include receiving an inheritance, a settlement, or a gift that would otherwise disqualify a beneficiary from means-tested benefits; preparing for long-term care needs; or formalizing supplemental support when caregivers are aging. Other circumstances include planning for a child with disabilities who will outlive parents, coordinating benefits after a change in household income, or consolidating resources for improved administration by a trustee. In each case, a trust can be tailored to maintain benefits while providing discretionary funds for additional needs.
When a person with disabilities receives inheritance proceeds or a settlement, those funds can push them over asset limits for public benefits. Placing such funds into an appropriate Special Needs Trust can protect benefit eligibility while allowing the money to be spent on needs the programs do not cover. Drafting and funding the trust promptly is important to minimize disruption to benefits and ensure the funds are used in a way that supports the beneficiary’s long-term well-being and care plan.
As primary caregivers age or face health changes, formal planning becomes urgent to ensure continuity of care. Naming successor trustees, clarifying distribution guidelines, and providing funding to pay for additional support services can ease transitions and prevent lapses in care. A trust gives structure to ongoing financial support, enabling new caregivers to access resources for the beneficiary without risking public benefit eligibility and ensuring that the beneficiary’s day-to-day needs and preferences remain central to decisions.
When the beneficiary’s needs include specialized housing or long-term services, a trust can fund costs that fall outside public benefit coverage. This may include modifications to living space, rental assistance, or payment for enhanced residential care services. Careful planning ensures funds are available when needed and that the trustee’s distribution authority aligns with the beneficiary’s needs, local housing resources, and program rules so housing transitions and long-term supports proceed smoothly.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves families in Ione and nearby areas in Amador County, providing tailored planning for Special Needs Trusts and related estate documents. We focus on creating practical, durable plans that coordinate with Medi-Cal and other benefits, and on preparing trust documents, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. Our approach is to listen to family priorities, provide clear explanations of legal options, and prepare documents that trustees and caregivers can implement confidently over time.
Families choose the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman because we provide thorough, practical estate planning focused on real-world administration and long-term stability. We help align trust provisions with benefit rules, prepare supporting estate documents such as certification of trust and pour-over wills, and advise on titling and beneficiary designations to avoid unintended disqualification. Communication, careful drafting, and thoughtful trustee selection are core parts of our service to families across San Jose, Ione, and the broader California area.
Our office helps clients identify appropriate funding sources for a Special Needs Trust, coordinate with retirement and insurance assets, and draft distribution standards that protect public benefits while enhancing the beneficiary’s quality of life. We also provide guidance on trust administration, recordkeeping, and periodic reviews to adapt plans as needs and laws change. Our goal is to make administration manageable and ensure that the beneficiary receives consistent support under a clear legal framework prepared for long-term use.
In addition to trust drafting, we prepare related documents often needed in special needs planning, including revocable living trusts, last wills and testaments, financial powers of attorney, HIPAA authorizations, and guardianship nominations where appropriate. We strive to deliver responsive service, transparent communication, and clear documentation so families can move forward with confidence and protect their loved one’s access to benefits and supplemental care in California.
Our process begins with a detailed consultation to understand the beneficiary’s current benefits, financial situation, and family goals. We gather records, review potential funding sources, and discuss trustee options. Next we draft a trust tailored to the family’s objectives, prepare supporting estate documents, and review the plan with caregivers or trustees. After execution, we assist with funding the trust, coordinating beneficiary designations, and providing guidance on administration. Periodic reviews ensure the plan remains aligned with evolving needs and regulatory changes in California.
The first step is to assess benefit eligibility, current assets, and the beneficiary’s needs. We gather financial documents, benefit award letters, and any relevant health or care plans. This review identifies whether a first-party, third-party, or pooled trust is appropriate, and helps determine funding strategies and trustee responsibilities. Clear documentation and an accurate picture of the beneficiary’s circumstances are essential to drafting a trust that preserves benefits while providing meaningful supplemental support.
Collecting records such as Medi-Cal notices, income statements, bank statements, and documentation of anticipated inheritances or settlements provides the factual basis for trust planning. These materials allow us to evaluate asset limits, timing concerns, and possible payback obligations. Having accurate records up front reduces the chance of drafting mistakes and ensures that the chosen trust structure is appropriate for the beneficiary’s current and foreseeable situation.
We work with families to define priorities for distributions, including housing, health care supplements, therapy, education, and activities that enhance quality of life. These priorities shape the trust’s distribution standards and instructions to the trustee. Clear guidance about intended uses helps trustees make consistent, benefit-preserving decisions and ensures that trust funds address the beneficiary’s most important needs over time.
Once planning decisions are made, we prepare the trust document and supporting estate planning instruments, such as a pour-over will, certification of trust, powers of attorney, and HIPAA authorization. Drafting focuses on clear distribution standards, trustee powers for investment and administration, and provisions to address successor trustees and payback obligations if required. Documents are reviewed with the family and revised until they reflect the client’s intentions and practical considerations for California administration.
The trust is drafted to set out the trustee’s powers, guidelines for discretionary distributions, and mechanisms for reporting and recordkeeping. Trustee instructions include suggested spending priorities, documentation requirements, and procedures for handling complex decisions like housing or long-term services. These instructions help trustees meet the family’s goals while avoiding actions that could endanger benefit eligibility, making administration more predictable and aligned with the beneficiary’s needs.
Supporting documents such as a pour-over will, financial power of attorney, advance health care directive, and certification of trust complete the estate plan. These instruments ensure assets are directed to the trust where intended and provide legal authority for caregivers and trustees to act on the beneficiary’s behalf. Proper titling and beneficiary designations are reviewed to make sure funds intended for the trust flow as planned and do not unintentionally disqualify the beneficiary from public benefits.
After documents are signed, we assist with funding the trust, which may involve retitling accounts, updating beneficiary designations, or executing deeds. We provide guidance on transferring assets into the trust and on initial trustee actions, such as establishing bank accounts and recordkeeping practices. Ongoing administration may include periodic reviews, help with investment decisions, preparing accountings, and advising trustees on distributions to maintain benefit eligibility and support the beneficiary’s evolving needs.
Funding can involve changing account titles, updating beneficiary designations, or directing bequests through a pour-over will. Proper titling ensures the trust holds the assets intended for the beneficiary and prevents accidental disqualification from benefits. We guide clients through the administrative steps with financial institutions or courts as needed, and provide checklists so the trustee has the documentation required for future distributions and reporting.
Trust administration benefits from ongoing support, including guidance on allowable expenditures, recordkeeping, and coordination with benefit agencies. Periodic plan reviews keep the trust aligned with changes in the beneficiary’s circumstances and in public benefit rules. We remain available to assist trustees when complex decisions arise, to prepare necessary accountings, and to update documents if life changes call for revised instructions or successor trustee designations.
A Special Needs Trust is a legal arrangement that holds assets for the benefit of a person with disabilities while aiming to preserve eligibility for means-tested public programs such as Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income. The trust is drafted so that the assets held inside are not counted as personal assets for eligibility purposes, while allowing the trustee to make discretionary distributions for supplemental needs like specialized medical equipment, therapies, transportation, or recreational activities that enhance quality of life. The trust balances access to public benefits with supplemental financial support by defining distribution priorities and trustee responsibilities. To be effective, the trust document must be carefully drafted and funded in accordance with state and federal rules. Families typically review the beneficiary’s current benefits and financial situation, select an appropriate trust type, name reliable trustees, and coordinate beneficiary designations and estate documents to ensure assets pass to the trust as intended. Ongoing administration includes prudent recordkeeping, understanding allowable distributions, and periodically updating the plan to reflect changes in the beneficiary’s needs or benefit program rules.
California recognizes several common Special Needs Trust structures, including third-party trusts funded by family members, first-party trusts for assets belonging to the beneficiary that often include a payback provision to reimburse Medi-Cal, and pooled trusts managed by nonprofit organizations that maintain separate subaccounts for beneficiaries. Each option serves different funding sources and family goals. Third-party trusts typically avoid payback obligations and can leave remaining assets as the grantor wishes, while first-party trusts protect eligibility when the beneficiary already owns assets. Choosing among these options depends on who provides the funds, the amount involved, administrative preferences, and long-term intentions for leftover assets. Pooled trusts may suit smaller amounts or families that prefer nonprofit administration. It is important to review the rules and costs associated with each choice and to document the plan with related estate instruments so the trust receives intended funds without jeopardizing benefit eligibility.
A payback provision typically appears in first-party Special Needs Trusts and requires that remaining trust assets be used to reimburse the state for Medi-Cal benefits paid on behalf of the beneficiary after their death. This provision ensures the state recovers certain expenditures, which affects how family members plan distributions and residual beneficiaries. Understanding the potential amount owed and how payback interacts with other obligations helps families decide whether a first-party trust is the appropriate vehicle or whether other planning techniques should be used to preserve remaining assets for heirs. Payback considerations do not eliminate the value of a first-party trust, particularly when the beneficiary needs immediate protection of benefits or has funds that would otherwise disqualify them. Families should weigh payback rules against the beneficiary’s lifetime needs and the family’s intent for remaining funds, and may combine strategies such as life insurance, third-party funding, or charitable planning to achieve broader goals while satisfying statutory requirements.
Choosing a trustee is an important decision that affects trust administration and the beneficiary’s quality of life. A trustee should be someone who is organized, trustworthy, and prepared to follow the trust’s distribution guidelines while coordinating with benefit programs. Family members often serve as trustees, but some families designate a trusted friend, a professional fiduciary, or a nonprofit trustee. Whomever is chosen should understand recordkeeping responsibilities, reporting requirements, and the importance of making distributions that do not jeopardize public benefits. Naming successor trustees and documenting clear instructions in the trust reduces uncertainty if the initial trustee becomes unable to serve. Some families appoint a co-trustee to share responsibilities or name a professional advisor to assist with investments and administrative tasks. Clear distribution standards and guidance help trustees make consistent decisions and provide the beneficiary with predictable support over time.
Life insurance and retirement accounts can be effective tools for funding a Special Needs Trust when beneficiary designations and policy ownership are structured properly. Naming the trust as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or directing retirement account proceeds to flow into a trust through a payable-on-death arrangement helps ensure those assets support the beneficiary while preserving benefit eligibility. However, retirement account distributions may have tax implications that should be considered as part of the overall plan. Coordinating beneficiary designations with the trust is essential to avoid assets passing directly to the beneficiary, which could affect eligibility for means-tested programs. Families should review account terms, consult on potential tax consequences, and update beneficiary designations whenever significant life changes occur to maintain alignment with the trust plan and the beneficiary’s long-term needs.
Funding a Special Needs Trust through an estate plan often involves a pour-over will, beneficiary designations, or targeted bequests that direct assets into the trust at death. A pour-over will directs probate assets to the trust, while beneficiary designations on accounts and life insurance can name the trust directly so funds transfer without probate. Careful coordination and timely updates to accounts and titles are needed to ensure the trust receives assets as intended and that the beneficiary’s eligibility for benefits is protected. Families should review wills, account beneficiary designations, and titling with an eye toward preserving benefits. Without coordination, assets may pass directly to the beneficiary and disqualify them from public programs. Working through these mechanics during life helps prevent unintended outcomes and ensures that future distributions are governed by the trust’s instructions rather than by default account rules.
What happens to trust assets when the beneficiary dies depends on the trust type and the terms set by the grantor. In a third-party trust, remaining assets can be distributed to family members or other named beneficiaries according to the trust document. In a first-party trust, state law often requires remaining assets be used to reimburse Medi-Cal for benefits provided to the beneficiary, which is known as a payback provision. Pooled trusts may have their own rules about remaining subaccount funds, which may be retained by the nonprofit or distributed under specified conditions. Understanding the disposition of residual assets is part of designing the trust. Families who wish to leave remaining funds to heirs may prefer a third-party trust or use other planning tools to achieve that result. Clear drafting ensures expectations about leftover assets are met while complying with reimbursement requirements when applicable.
A Special Needs Trust should be reviewed periodically and whenever circumstances change, such as a change in public benefit rules, a significant change in the beneficiary’s medical condition, an inheritance, or the death or incapacity of a trustee. Regular reviews ensure that distribution provisions, trustee appointments, and funding arrangements remain appropriate and that the trust continues to protect benefit eligibility while fulfilling the family’s goals. Updates may be necessary to adapt to legal developments or new care options that could affect planning choices. A routine review every few years is prudent, with additional reviews triggered by life events like marriage, divorce, estate changes, or receipt of settlement funds. Proactive reviews reduce the risk of unintended disqualification from benefits and keep trustees equipped with clear guidance to manage resources effectively for the beneficiary’s evolving needs.
Yes, a Special Needs Trust can be used to help pay for housing-related expenses and supplemental long-term services that public benefits may not fully cover. Trust funds may be used for rent or mortgage assistance, home modifications, transportation, and services that enable the beneficiary to live more independently or in a setting that better meets their needs. The trust should include clear distribution guidelines so trustees can make payments that support housing and care without impacting means-tested benefits. Coordination with local housing resources, Medi-Cal rules, and Social Security standards is important when using trust funds for housing and care. Trustees should document distributions and consult with advisors when needed to verify that payments are complementary to public benefits rather than substituting for them in ways that could trigger eligibility issues.
To start the Special Needs Trust planning process, gather relevant documents such as current benefit award letters, bank and account statements, documentation of any expected inheritances or settlements, and information about the beneficiary’s care needs. Schedule an initial consultation to discuss objectives, funding sources, trustee options, and how a trust will coordinate with existing benefits. Clear communication among family members and caregivers about priorities and intended uses of the trust helps shape a practical plan. During the initial meetings, the planner will recommend an appropriate trust type, draft the trust and supporting estate documents, and outline steps for funding and administration. After execution, assistance is provided with titling accounts and updating beneficiary designations to ensure the trust receives intended assets and the beneficiary’s eligibility remains protected.
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