At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman in Pine Hills, we provide practical, compassionate assistance to families planning for a loved one with disabilities. A special needs trust helps protect public benefits while preserving funds for quality of life, supplemental care, and long-term security. Our approach focuses on clear communication, careful documentation, and tailored trust provisions that reflect family priorities. We work with trustees and caregivers to create plans that anticipate changing circumstances, avoid disqualifying beneficiaries from means-tested programs, and support independence whenever possible. This introductory overview aims to help you understand options and next steps for creating a trust that meets your family’s needs.
Deciding on a special needs trust can feel overwhelming, but thorough planning reduces stress and preserves benefits. We guide clients through selecting trust type, trustee duties, and funding strategies that align with public benefit rules. The trust can cover items and services that public benefits do not, including therapy, travel, education, medical copays, and extracurricular activities. Our office helps families determine whether a first-party, third-party, or pooled trust is most appropriate, and outlines how wills, beneficiary designations, and other estate tools interact with a special needs plan. We prioritize clarity so families understand both immediate steps and long-term administration responsibilities.
A properly drafted special needs trust preserves eligibility for means-tested public benefits while making supplemental resources available for enhanced care. It prevents a direct transfer of assets that could disqualify a beneficiary and establishes a framework for prudent spending by a trustee on items that improve quality of life. The trust allows family members to leave resources for housing modifications, therapies, transportation, and social activities without jeopardizing benefits. Additionally, it can provide continuity of care by naming successor trustees and outlining distribution standards, helping families avoid guardianship disputes and ensuring the beneficiary’s needs remain front and center across changing life stages.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman in San Jose and serving Pine Hills focus on practical estate planning solutions tailored to California law and local resources. Our team provides personalized attention to understand each family’s financial picture, medical needs, and long-term goals for a loved one with disabilities. We emphasize careful drafting, clear trustee guidance, and coordination with accountants, care managers, and benefit coordinators when appropriate. Families receive straightforward advice about funding the trust, beneficiary protections, and ongoing administration so plans are effective from execution through trustee transitions and eventual trust distributions.
A special needs trust is a legal instrument designed to hold assets for a beneficiary while preserving access to public programs such as Supplemental Security Income and Medi-Cal. The trust is governed by a trustee who manages funds and disburses them for permitted supplemental needs. It must be drafted to meet statutory requirements and to avoid direct ownership that would affect eligibility. Depending on the trust type, rules about when assets can be used and how remaining funds are handled at the beneficiary’s death can vary, so clear drafting and funding are essential. Families should also consider successor trustees and instructions for trustee decision-making.
Different types of special needs trusts serve distinct purposes. A third-party trust is funded with someone else’s assets and generally avoids countable resources for the beneficiary. A first-party or self-settled trust holds the beneficiary’s own assets and usually contains a Medicaid payback provision. Pooled trusts, often run by nonprofit organizations, combine resources while providing individualized subaccounts. Each option has implications for funding flexibility, creditor protection, and repayment obligations. Proper coordination with wills, beneficiary designations, and retirement accounts helps ensure assets flow into the trust as intended and do not inadvertently disqualify the beneficiary from benefits.
A special needs trust is a legal arrangement that holds money or property for a person with disabilities while preserving eligibility for means-tested government benefits. The trust is administered by a trustee who follows trust terms to make distributions for supplemental needs that public programs do not cover. It is not intended to replace benefits but to enhance them, funding things like therapies, education, transportation, and recreational activities. Drafting must address whether the trust is third-party, first-party, or pooled, and specify payback provisions if required. Clear trust language and careful funding prevent unintended consequences and protect long-term access to services.
Key elements include selecting the appropriate trust type, appointing a reliable trustee, defining permissible uses, and including successor trustee provisions. The process usually begins with a detailed intake to identify the beneficiary’s current benefits, income sources, and long-term needs. Next is drafting trust language that complies with California law and any federal benefit rules, coordinating beneficiary designations and payable-on-death accounts, and funding the trust by retitling assets or arranging beneficiary distributions to pour into the trust. Finally, ongoing administration requires recordkeeping, timely filings, and periodic reviews to adapt to changes in benefits or family circumstances.
Understanding terminology helps families make informed choices. Terms like payback provision, pooled trust, first-party trust, third-party trust, trustee, and distributions each carry important legal and practical meanings. Familiarity with these concepts clarifies how assets will be treated, how eligibility is preserved, and what responsibilities a trustee will have to document spending. Families should also understand the interaction between estate planning documents such as wills, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations. Clear definitions reduce confusion and make it easier to coordinate estate plans with benefit rules and long-term care considerations.
A third-party special needs trust is created and funded by someone other than the disabled beneficiary, typically a parent, grandparent, or other family member. It holds assets for the beneficiary’s supplemental needs without counting those assets for means-tested benefit eligibility. Because funds belong to the trust rather than the beneficiary, they can be used flexibly to improve quality of life, pay for education, therapies, or recreational activities. Third-party trusts generally do not require repayment to Medicaid at the beneficiary’s death, allowing remaining funds to pass to other family members as directed by the trust document.
A pooled special needs trust is managed by a nonprofit organization that combines funds from multiple beneficiaries into a single pooled account while maintaining individual subaccounts. This arrangement offers professional administration and can be a practical option when a family lacks an appropriate trustee or when initial funding is modest. The nonprofit manages investments and disbursements, and subaccounts are used for individualized distributions. Pooled trusts often include provisions for Medicaid payback requirements, and remaining funds at the beneficiary’s death may be handled according to the nonprofit’s policies and applicable law.
A first-party or self-settled special needs trust holds assets that belong to the disabled beneficiary, such as an inheritance, settlement, or personal savings. These trusts commonly include a Medicaid payback provision requiring repayment to the state for benefits received during the beneficiary’s lifetime before any remainder is distributed. First-party trusts can be essential to preserve eligibility when a beneficiary comes into funds but still needs public benefits. Proper drafting ensures compliance with federal and California rules, and trustee guidance is important to manage distributions in a way that supplements rather than replaces public benefits.
A payback provision requires that any remaining trust assets at a beneficiary’s death be used to reimburse the state for public benefits paid on the beneficiary’s behalf, such as Medicaid. This is common in first-party trusts and some pooled trust arrangements. The provision must be clear and comply with state rules to meet eligibility requirements for certain types of trusts. Families should understand the implications: a payback may reduce the assets available to heirs, but it enables the beneficiary to receive the benefits necessary during their lifetime. Alternative planning can sometimes limit the impact of payback requirements.
When evaluating trust options, families weigh control, cost, flexibility, and implications for benefit eligibility. Third-party trusts offer flexibility with no payback requirement, while first-party trusts preserve benefits but usually require state reimbursement. Pooled trusts provide professional management and accessibility, but may limit how remaining funds are handled. Other estate tools such as naming a trust as a beneficiary of a retirement account or using a pour-over will to fund a trust upon death also influence the best approach. The right choice depends on the family’s goals, the beneficiary’s current and future need for benefits, and funding sources available.
A limited approach may be appropriate when anticipated asset transfers to the beneficiary are small, benefits are not at immediate risk, and the family prefers a straightforward mechanism to address modest supplemental needs. In these circumstances, simple trust language combined with clear beneficiary designations and brief trustee instructions can be sufficient to preserve eligibility and manage occasional distributions. The decision to use a less complex structure should follow a careful review of how proposed transfers interact with income and resource tests for programs like SSI and Medi-Cal to avoid inadvertently jeopardizing critical benefits.
If a beneficiary already receives stable public benefits with predictable needs and the family anticipates only incidental supplemental spending, a narrowly tailored plan may meet objectives without creating an extensive trust administration burden. In this case, limited directives to a family caregiver or trustee for small discretionary distributions can improve quality of life while maintaining benefits. Families should still document distributions and consult periodically, since changes in income or household circumstances can affect eligibility, and minor adjustments now can prevent costly corrections later.
A comprehensive plan is important when a beneficiary’s situation involves significant assets, complex income streams, or potential eligibility interactions with multiple public programs. Detailed planning helps coordinate retirement accounts, life insurance proceeds, and estate assets so funds flow into the trust without disrupting benefits. It also ensures appropriate tax and creditor protections and provides clear guidance for trustees and successors. Families facing complex financial arrangements will benefit from a full review that addresses funding strategies, possible payback obligations, and contingency plans for trustee transitions to secure the beneficiary’s long-term stability.
When a beneficiary’s medical or care needs are likely to change significantly, a comprehensive trust can provide flexible distribution standards, health-care directives, and trustee authority to respond to evolving circumstances. This planning may include provisions for residential support, long-term therapies, and contingency funds for emergencies or specialized services. A thorough plan anticipates different life stages, designates successor decision-makers, and aligns documents like powers of attorney, HIPAA releases, and guardianship nominations to create a coordinated approach that keeps the beneficiary’s needs met through changing health and housing circumstances.
Comprehensive planning offers families greater clarity about how assets will be used, who will manage funds, and how to preserve eligibility for public programs. It reduces the risk of unintentional disqualification from benefits and helps establish consistent standards for trustee decisions. A well-structured plan can ease family tensions by documenting intentions and naming successors, while also addressing tax and creditor concerns. By coordinating estate planning documents, beneficiary designations, and trust funding, families create a cohesive system that protects the beneficiary and provides practical instructions for caregivers and future trustees.
A comprehensive plan also supports peace of mind by clarifying responsibilities and contingencies. It sets out guidelines for distributions that enhance the beneficiary’s quality of life without replacing public benefits, and provides mechanisms for oversight and accountability. Long-term planning can anticipate changes in laws or benefit rules, allowing for periodic reviews and amendments. Ultimately, this approach helps ensure resources are available when needed and reduces the likelihood of disputes or gaps in care, helping families focus on day-to-day support rather than legal or financial uncertainty.
One key benefit is preserving eligibility for government programs while providing funds for supplemental needs that improve daily life. Thoughtful drafting ensures distributions are made for permitted items such as therapies, education, travel, and household needs without counting as income or resources for means-tested benefits. This balance allows a beneficiary to receive the support offered by public programs while also enjoying opportunities and amenities that enhance their independence and community participation. Clear trustee guidance and recordkeeping help maintain this balance over time.
Comprehensive planning provides long-term stability by naming successor trustees, outlining distribution standards, and setting procedures for changing circumstances. This clarity reduces family conflicts and supports consistent decision-making about housing, care, and supplemental services. It also creates a roadmap for handling beneficiary transitions such as aging caregivers or changes in medical needs, ensuring that someone is prepared to act in the beneficiary’s interest. The result is a more reliable financial structure that supports the beneficiary’s wellbeing across their lifetime.
Begin by documenting all current benefits, income streams, and resources the beneficiary receives, including SSI, Medi-Cal, VA benefits, and private payments. A complete inventory helps determine how a trust will affect eligibility and clarifies what supplemental needs the trust should address. This step also reveals how best to structure distributions to avoid reducing benefits and demonstrates whether a first-party, third-party, or pooled trust is most suitable. Accurate documentation creates a baseline for future reviews and helps trustees make informed distribution decisions while complying with program rules.
Ensure wills, retirement account beneficiary designations, life insurance policies, and payable-on-death accounts align with the trust plan so assets pass into the trust as intended. A pour-over will can direct residual estate assets into a third-party special needs trust, but retirement accounts often require careful handling to avoid tax consequences. Coordinate these instruments with your trust to prevent inadvertent direct distributions that could disqualify a beneficiary from public benefits. Regular reviews keep documents consistent as laws and family circumstances change.
Families consider a special needs trust when they want to protect a loved one’s eligibility for government benefits while providing additional resources for quality-of-life needs. It is often used when an inheritance, settlement, or parental savings would otherwise increase the beneficiary’s countable assets. Planning is also appropriate when parents or caregivers wish to name successor decision-makers, avoid guardianship when possible, or coordinate long-term housing and care arrangements. Establishing a trust now can prevent future crises, clarify responsibilities, and ensure a smoother transition if caregivers are no longer able to provide support.
Another reason to pursue this planning is to reduce family conflict and provide a clear roadmap for trustees and caregivers. A trust defines permissible uses of funds and sets distribution standards that balance immediate needs with long-term security. It can also address creditor concerns, provide for emergency funds, and allow parents to fund services not covered by public benefits. Because each family’s financial and care situation differs, personalized planning ensures the trust reflects your priorities for the beneficiary’s lifestyle, care, and future legacy.
Typical circumstances include receiving an inheritance, settlement proceeds, or life insurance proceeds that would otherwise count as resources for benefits eligibility. Families also establish trusts when a parent wants to leave funds for a child with disabilities, when a beneficiary needs supplemental care beyond what public programs provide, or when household changes affect eligibility. Another common scenario is planning for a transition from parental care to independent living or supported housing. Trusts provide a mechanism to hold funds responsibly and allocate them for needs that enhance wellbeing without jeopardizing public supports.
When a beneficiary receives an inheritance or legal settlement, their increased assets can threaten eligibility for public benefits. Establishing a first-party special needs trust or directing funds into an appropriate third-party trust preserves eligibility while providing for supplemental needs. Timely planning and proper drafting are essential to avoid a gap in benefits and to meet Medicaid payback requirements where applicable. The trust can be funded through court-approved transfers or other mechanisms depending on the asset type, ensuring funds are available for the beneficiary without counting as a personal resource.
Parents often create special needs trusts to ensure their child with disabilities has continuing support after their death or incapacity. These trusts provide a method to leave assets without disqualifying the child from public benefits and permit parents to establish distribution standards that reflect family values. Naming trustees, successor trustees, and backup caregivers is part of comprehensive planning, as is coordinating other documents such as powers of attorney and guardianship nominations. This planning helps parents provide for their child’s needs while retaining the benefits that families rely on.
Many beneficiaries require items and services that public programs do not fully cover, such as specialized therapies, adaptive equipment, transportation, or recreational activities that promote social inclusion. A special needs trust can be used to fund these supplemental supports without jeopardizing core benefits. The trust allows discretionary spending for quality-of-life enhancements and can be structured to respond to evolving needs. Trustees manage funds and keep records to demonstrate that distributions supplement, rather than replace, public benefits.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serve Pine Hills and nearby communities with practical estate planning and trust services tailored to local needs. We understand California benefit rules and local care resources, and we coordinate with medical providers, social workers, and community agencies as needed. Our practice is attentive to family dynamics and seeks to create durable plans that work in real life, addressing trustee duties, funding mechanisms, and contingency plans. We aim to make the process clear and manageable so families can focus on caring for their loved ones while knowing a thoughtful plan is in place.
Families rely on our firm because we provide personalized attention and a practical approach to complex benefit and trust issues. We take time to understand the beneficiary’s needs, current benefits, and family priorities so that the resulting trust is effective and usable. Our drafting focuses on clear language, trustee guidance, and options for funding and administration that reduce the risk of unintended consequences. We also coordinate with financial and care professionals when helpful to create a seamless plan that supports the beneficiary’s long-term wellbeing.
Our process emphasizes thorough intake, careful document preparation, and ongoing support during initial trust funding and early administration. We educate families about permissible distributions, recordkeeping, and interactions with public programs so trustees can act confidently. If adjustments are needed due to changes in law or family circumstances, we assist with amendments or related estate planning updates. This steady guidance helps families make informed decisions and provides continuity of care across generations, ensuring a reliable framework for managing resources intended to supplement public benefits.
We also help clients anticipate practical administration issues such as banking, accounting, and trustee reporting. Creating a clear plan for trustee compensation, decision-making authority, and dispute resolution reduces future friction and helps trustees focus on supporting the beneficiary. Our work includes drafting associated documents such as powers of attorney, HIPAA authorizations, and pour-over wills to make sure all components of an estate plan work together. Families receive a comprehensive package that supports both immediate needs and long-term planning goals.
Our process begins with a focused consultation to gather information about the beneficiary’s current benefits, assets, and medical needs. From there we recommend a trust type and draft documents tailored to the family’s objectives. We explain trustee duties, funding options, and how to coordinate other estate planning instruments. After execution we assist with retitling accounts and documenting initial funding steps, and we offer guidance for early administration tasks. Periodic reviews help keep the plan aligned with changing laws and family circumstances, providing a practical, long-term roadmap for managing resources.
The first step involves a comprehensive intake and review of current government benefits, income, assets, and future funding sources. This review identifies any immediate eligibility concerns and clarifies which trust type will best preserve benefits while meeting family objectives. We gather information about medical needs, current care arrangements, and existing estate documents to create an integrated plan. Early identification of potential eligibility issues allows us to design trust language and funding strategies that minimize disruption to benefits and support a smooth transition to trust administration when needed.
We collect relevant financial statements, benefit award letters, medical records, and information about current caregivers and services. This documentation helps us evaluate how resource limits and income rules interact with proposed funding and distribution plans. Understanding both the beneficiary’s health needs and the family’s financial picture enables practical recommendations about trust type, permissible distributions, and trustee responsibilities. This careful intake reduces the risk of surprises during trust funding and administration and allows us to provide clear, actionable guidance.
We review wills, beneficiary designations, and payable-on-death accounts to ensure they align with the trust plan and do not inadvertently create countable resources for the beneficiary. Coordination may involve drafting a pour-over will, changing retirement account beneficiaries, or preparing transfer documents to fund the trust. Aligning these instruments prevents direct distributions that could cause loss of benefits and ensures assets intended for supplemental care actually reach the trust. This review is a critical step in ensuring a cohesive plan that functions as intended after execution.
After the intake, we draft the trust and related documents to reflect the family’s goals and comply with legal requirements. The drafting stage includes clear trustee instructions, distribution standards, successor trustee designations, and any necessary payback language. We walk clients through the trust terms, answering questions and making revisions to align with family priorities. Once documents are signed and notarized, we provide guidance on immediate funding steps, recordkeeping, and how to coordinate with financial institutions or the probate process if asset retitling is needed.
Trust language focuses on permitted supplemental distributions, trustee discretion, and conditions for releasing funds in a way that avoids counting as a personal resource. We balance clarity with flexibility, allowing funds to be used for evolving needs such as therapies, education, housing, and equipment. Successor trustee provisions and administrative instructions ensure continuity if the initial trustee can no longer serve. Careful drafting reduces administration disputes and supports consistent decision-making that benefits the trust beneficiary over time.
After execution, we assist with immediate actions to fund the trust, such as retitling bank accounts, redirecting life insurance or retirement payouts, and coordinating with courts if required for settlement funds. We provide clients with checklists and sample forms for communicating with financial institutions and explain documentation trustees should maintain. This guidance helps ensure the trust is operational and that distributions can be made when needed, without disrupting public benefits. Proper initial funding prevents administration delays and protects eligibility.
Trust administration requires careful recordkeeping, prudent distribution decisions, and periodic reviews to ensure the trust continues to meet the beneficiary’s needs and comply with changing laws. We advise trustees on documentation practices, permissible expenditures, and interactions with benefit agencies. Periodic reviews help adjust the plan in response to life changes, new funding sources, or updates to public benefit rules. Continued attention reduces the risk of disputes, helps trustees make defensible decisions, and ensures the trust remains a reliable source of supplemental support for the beneficiary.
Trustees should keep detailed records of all receipts and expenditures, including invoices and explanations for distributions that support the beneficiary’s supplemental needs. Proper records demonstrate that funds are used in ways that complement public benefits and can be critical in responding to benefit agency inquiries. Establishing a simple accounting system and following consistent procedures for receipts and disbursements reduces administration burdens and increases transparency among family members and fiduciaries. We provide templates and guidance to make this process manageable.
Periodic reviews ensure the trust reflects legal changes, beneficiary needs, and family circumstances. Review intervals may vary, but a check-in every few years or following significant life events helps identify necessary amendments or funding adjustments. These reviews also address tax considerations, changes in benefits rules, and trustee performance. Proactive updates keep the plan effective and reduce the likelihood of costly corrections later. We assist clients with amendment language and administrative steps to maintain alignment with goals and compliance requirements.
A special needs trust is a legal vehicle that holds assets for a person with disabilities while preserving eligibility for means-tested public benefits such as SSI and Medi-Cal. The trust is managed by a trustee who makes distributions for supplemental items and services not provided by government programs. The key to preserving benefits is that the trust holds resources on behalf of the beneficiary rather than the beneficiary owning the assets directly, provided the trust is drafted to comply with applicable rules. Clear distribution standards and careful administration help maintain the balance between supplemental support and program eligibility. Proper drafting and timing are essential to avoid accidental disqualification and ensure the trust functions as intended for both immediate and long-term needs.
In California the primary options include third-party trusts, first-party or self-settled trusts, and pooled trusts run by nonprofit organizations. Third-party trusts are funded by someone other than the beneficiary and generally avoid payback requirements, making them suitable for parental legacy planning. First-party trusts hold the beneficiary’s own funds, such as a settlement or inheritance, and typically include a Medicaid payback provision. Pooled trusts combine funds under a nonprofit while maintaining individual subaccounts, which can be useful when families lack a suitable trustee or prefer professional administration. Each type has distinct advantages and implications for funding, administration, and remaining assets at the beneficiary’s death.
A trust can be funded by retitling bank or investment accounts, naming the trust as a beneficiary of certain assets, directing life insurance or retirement proceeds into the trust, or using a pour-over will to move estate assets into a third-party trust upon death. When funding with retirement accounts, careful planning is needed to address tax consequences. For first-party funds such as settlements, court approval or specific procedural steps may be required to place funds into a qualifying trust. Coordination with existing estate plans is important so that assets intended for supplemental care actually reach the trust and do not inadvertently disqualify the beneficiary.
A trustee should be someone who is organized, trustworthy, and comfortable with recordkeeping and financial management. Many families nominate a trusted relative or friend and name successor trustees to ensure continuity if circumstances change. If no suitable family member is available, a pooled trust manager or a professional fiduciary may be appropriate. Trustee responsibilities include managing investments prudently, keeping detailed records of distributions, making permissible payments that supplement public benefits, and communicating with beneficiaries and family members as appropriate. Clear written instructions and guidance reduce ambiguity and help trustees act consistently in the beneficiary’s best interest.
When a trust is properly drafted and funded, it can preserve eligibility for programs such as SSI and Medi-Cal by preventing assets from being counted as the beneficiary’s personal resources. The trust terms must align with federal and state rules that determine what constitutes a countable asset. Improperly handled transfers or direct payments to the beneficiary can create a risk of disqualification. It is important to coordinate distributions, maintain records, and seek guidance when disposing of or retitling assets so that the beneficiary’s benefits remain intact while supplemental needs are met through trust distributions.
A Medicaid payback provision requires that any remaining trust assets at the beneficiary’s death be used to reimburse the state for Medicaid benefits paid on the beneficiary’s behalf. This provision is commonly required for first-party trusts that hold a beneficiary’s own funds, including settlement proceeds or inheritances. The payback ensures compliance with Medicaid rules and allows the trust to qualify as a permissible vehicle for preserving benefits during the beneficiary’s life. Families should understand that payback provisions may reduce assets available to heirs but enable necessary benefits during the beneficiary’s lifetime.
Whether a trust can pay for housing or living expenses without affecting benefits depends on the type of benefit and how payments are made. For programs like Medi-Cal, certain third-party payments for services or housing-related items may be permissible if they do not count as income or resources to the beneficiary. Paying the provider directly from the trust rather than transferring funds to the beneficiary is generally safer for preserving eligibility. Trustee discretion and careful recordkeeping are necessary to ensure housing-related distributions supplement benefits and do not inadvertently create countable resources.
Pooled trusts are managed by nonprofit organizations that maintain individual subaccounts for beneficiaries while pooling investments for administrative efficiency. They can be an attractive option when families seek professional management or when initial funding is limited. The nonprofit handles investments and distributions according to the subaccount’s needs and the organization’s policies. Pooled trusts often include Medicaid payback provisions for remaining funds at the beneficiary’s death. Families should review the nonprofit’s terms, fees, and distribution policies to ensure the arrangement aligns with their expectations and the beneficiary’s needs.
Trustees should keep detailed records of all receipts and expenditures, including invoices, receipts, and explanations for distributions that serve the beneficiary’s supplemental needs. Proper documentation demonstrates compliance with benefit rules and provides transparency for family members and agencies. Records should be maintained consistently and be accessible for periodic reviews. The trust should also be reviewed periodically, particularly after major life events or changes in benefit rules, to ensure terms remain appropriate. Regular reviews allow for timely amendments and prevent unintended consequences caused by outdated provisions.
Coordinating beneficiary designations and retirement accounts with a special needs trust requires careful planning to avoid tax and eligibility pitfalls. Directly naming the trust as a beneficiary of certain retirement accounts can be complex and may trigger taxation issues, so strategies often involve using qualified disclaimers or structuring distributions to balance tax consequences with benefit preservation. For life insurance and payable-on-death accounts, naming a third-party trust or directing proceeds into a trust upon death can help ensure funds are available for supplemental care without counting as a resource. Professional guidance helps align these designations with the overall plan.
Criminal Defense
Homicide Defense
Manslaughter
Assault and Battery
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Battery Causing Great Bodily Injury
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Protection Orders
Domestic Violence Restraining Order
Arson Defense
Weapons Charges
Illegal Firearm Possessions
Civil Harassment
Civil Harassment Restraining Orders
School Violence Restraining Orders
Violent Crimes Defense
Estate Planning Practice Areas