Families caring for a loved one with disabilities need tailored estate planning tools that protect benefits and provide for long-term needs. A special needs trust is a legal arrangement designed so a beneficiary can receive inheritances, gifts, or settlement proceeds without losing eligibility for public programs like Medi-Cal or Supplemental Security Income. In Citrus and throughout Los Angeles County, our firm helps clients understand how trusts can preserve access to essential benefits while supplementing quality of life. This guide explains the types of trusts, typical provisions, and practical steps families take to secure financial stability and peace of mind.
Choosing the right trust structure involves assessing current public benefits, the beneficiary’s daily needs, and how assets should be managed over time. Many families worry about inadvertently disqualifying a loved one from services; a properly drafted trust addresses those concerns by clearly outlining permitted distributions and trustee responsibilities. This page outlines immediate considerations, ongoing administration duties, and options for funding a trust through wills, transfers, or trust-to-trust assignments. Our goal is to give families in Citrus clear, trustworthy information to make decisions that protect both benefits and long-term care options for their loved ones.
A special needs trust plays a vital role in preserving eligibility for government benefits while enhancing a beneficiary’s quality of life. By holding resources in trust rather than giving them directly to the beneficiary, families can provide for supplemental needs such as therapy, education, transportation, and recreation without jeopardizing Medi-Cal or Supplemental Security Income. Trusts also provide an orderly mechanism for decision-making and financial management when a beneficiary cannot manage funds independently. For parents, siblings, and caregivers in Citrus, a trust reduces uncertainty and helps ensure that the beneficiary’s long-term needs are reliably met according to the family’s priorities and values.
Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides personalized estate planning and trust services to families across California, including Citrus and Los Angeles County. Our attorneys focus on clear communication, careful drafting, and practical administration plans that reflect each family’s unique circumstances. We collaborate with financial advisors, social workers, and care coordinators to design trust provisions that align with available public benefits and the beneficiary’s daily support needs. Our approach emphasizes protectively structured documents, ongoing trustee guidance, and straightforward explanations so families feel confident that their loved one’s future needs will be met with compassion and legal reliability.
A special needs trust is a legal vehicle that holds assets for a person with disabilities while allowing continued access to public benefits. There are different types of trusts, including third-party trusts funded by family members, first-party trusts funded by the beneficiary’s own assets, and pooled trusts managed by nonprofit organizations. Each type has specific rules about funding, distribution, and potential payback to the state. Determining the right option requires a clear inventory of the beneficiary’s current benefits, anticipated needs, and long-term financial goals, along with careful drafting to ensure compliance with California and federal benefit rules.
Trust administration is an ongoing responsibility that includes recordkeeping, monitoring changes in benefits law, and making distributions that enhance the beneficiary’s well-being without disqualifying essential services. Trustees must understand permitted uses of trust funds—such as personal care items, educational expenses, and transportation—while avoiding direct cash support for basic needs covered by benefits. Regular reviews of the trust documents and coordination with healthcare providers and case managers help ensure that the trust continues to serve the intended purpose as circumstances and regulations evolve over time.
A special needs trust is a legal arrangement where a trustee holds and manages assets on behalf of a beneficiary with disabilities. The trust is designed to supplement, not replace, government benefits by paying for extras that improve quality of life without triggering benefit disqualification. Typical trust provisions set out who can be a trustee, how funds may be used, and the process for distributions. The trust can be funded through inheritances, life insurance, personal assets, or court settlements. Clear drafting and prudent administration protect benefits eligibility and provide a structured path for long-term support.
Essential elements of a special needs trust include naming a successor trustee, specifying permissible distributions, detailing trustee duties, and defining payout priorities. The process of establishing a trust often begins with a thorough fact-finding meeting to document benefits, medical needs, and family goals. After drafting, proper funding of the trust is crucial and may require retitling assets, updating beneficiary designations, or creating a pour-over will to move assets into the trust after death. Ongoing administration involves meticulous accounting, annual reviews of benefits eligibility, and sometimes coordination with government agencies when circumstances change.
Understanding common terms helps families navigate the nuances of special needs planning. This section explains words and concepts frequently encountered in trust documents and benefit discussions, such as trustee duties, payback provisions, pooled trusts, and spendthrift provisions. Clear definitions reduce confusion when discussing funding options and trust administration requirements. Families should keep a glossary of terms and consult with their planning team to ensure that documents reflect current laws and the beneficiary’s real-world needs, so decisions made today remain practical and protective over the long term.
A trustee is the person or entity responsible for managing trust assets and carrying out the terms set forth in the trust document. Duties typically include making distributions in the beneficiary’s best interest, maintaining accurate records, investing prudently, and communicating with beneficiaries and family members as appropriate. Trustees must also be aware of public benefits rules to avoid actions that would jeopardize eligibility. Choosing the right trustee means balancing financial management experience with compassion for the beneficiary’s needs and willingness to coordinate with care providers and case managers.
A pooled trust is managed by a nonprofit organization that combines resources from multiple beneficiaries for investment and administrative efficiency while maintaining individual subaccounts. These trusts can be an option for individuals with smaller sums to place in trust, as they benefit from professional management and potentially lower fees. Under a pooled trust, distributions are tailored to the beneficiary’s needs while the nonprofit manages compliance with benefit rules. States may have specific rules about pooled trusts, so families should evaluate how a pooled arrangement compares with individually administered trusts.
A payback provision requires that any remaining funds in a first-party special needs trust be used to reimburse the state for public benefits received by the beneficiary after the beneficiary dies. This rule applies primarily to trusts funded with the beneficiary’s own assets. The payback requirement does not apply in the same way to third-party trusts funded by family members. Understanding payback language is important when deciding how to fund a trust and how to preserve family assets for other heirs while complying with legal obligations to repay benefit programs.
A pour-over will directs that any assets not already placed in the trust at the time of death are transferred into the trust through probate, ensuring that assets are ultimately managed according to the trust’s terms. This device helps funnel inheritances and loose assets into an established special needs trust, protecting the beneficiary’s access to benefits and maintaining consistent administration. While a pour-over will helps centralize estate assets, proper funding during life remains prudent to avoid unnecessary probate and to provide immediate support for a beneficiary when needed.
Families deciding among first-party, third-party, and pooled trusts should consider funding sources, payback obligations, administrative complexity, and long-term goals. First-party trusts are funded with the beneficiary’s own assets and often include payback clauses, while third-party trusts are funded by family members and typically avoid state payback requirements. Pooled trusts, managed by nonprofits, can be suitable for smaller accounts and provide professional administration. Each option affects eligibility, control, and how leftover assets are treated, so evaluating the family’s priorities, available resources, and the beneficiary’s likely future needs is essential.
A limited trust approach can work when the beneficiary’s additional needs are expected to be modest or when the family intends to provide narrowly defined support such as paying for a specific therapy or piece of equipment. In these situations, a smaller, targeted trust may be easier to administer and review, while still preserving eligibility for benefits. Families should carefully define permissible distributions to ensure funds are used for supplemental items that do not duplicate covered services. This path can be cost-effective for families whose resources or objectives do not require a fully comprehensive trust program.
When family members plan to continue providing day-to-day support, a limited trust that covers occasional or special expenses may be sufficient. This approach allows relatives to handle routine care while the trust supplements needs that go beyond what family can provide, such as vacations, adaptive technology, or enrichment activities. The trust should be structured to complement, not replace, informal supports and to ensure distributions are made in ways that protect public benefits. Clear communication among family members about roles and responsibilities prevents conflict and supports consistent administration.
Complex situations—such as fluctuating eligibility, significant assets, or anticipated long-term care needs—often require a comprehensive trust plan to coordinate benefits, investments, and caregiving arrangements. A complete plan addresses contingency planning, successor trustee appointments, healthcare directives, and funding strategies to avoid benefit disruption. Comprehensive planning reduces the risk of unintended disqualification from programs like Medi-Cal and establishes a framework for ongoing decision-making. Families facing uncertain futures or significant estate resources usually find a full plan helps align legal documents with the practical needs of the beneficiary over a lifetime.
When assets come from varied sources such as inheritances, life insurance, settlements, or retirement accounts, integrating those into a single plan requires thoughtful legal coordination. A comprehensive trust strategy includes pour-over wills, beneficiary designations, and potential irrevocable arrangements where appropriate to ensure funds flow into the trust and are used effectively. Planning also considers tax implications and the impact of probate. For families who wish to preserve assets while protecting benefits, a coordinated approach minimizes administrative burdens and helps achieve clear, long-term outcomes for the beneficiary.
A comprehensive trust plan provides clarity, continuity, and coordination between financial resources and care needs. It lays out who will make decisions, how funds will be spent, and how the trust will interact with public benefits. Families benefit from having a written roadmap that anticipates life changes, reduces conflict among heirs, and preserves access to essential services. The plan ensures that distributions enhance quality of life in ways that benefits programs do not cover, such as education, travel, or recreational therapies. This approach gives families a durable framework that adapts to changing circumstances.
In addition to protecting benefits, a full plan often reduces administrative surprises after a parent or caregiver passes away. With clear funding mechanisms like pour-over wills and beneficiary designations aligned with the trust, assets move into the trust efficiently. Ongoing trustee guidance and recordkeeping help maintain compliance, while successor trustee provisions ensure continuity of care. Ultimately, a comprehensive approach helps families spare the beneficiary disruptive legal proceedings and creates a smoother transition to long-term management of resources and care responsibilities.
A primary advantage of a comprehensive trust is its ability to preserve eligibility for programs like Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income while providing additional support for needs not covered by those programs. Carefully drafted distribution rules allow trustees to pay for supplemental benefits—such as specialized therapies, mobility equipment, or educational enrichment—without reducing public assistance. This dual protection secures essential services and enhances quality of life in meaningful ways, giving families confidence that resources will be used to complement, rather than replace, government-provided care.
Comprehensive planning promotes continuity by establishing a clear framework for trustee authority, successor appointments, and contingency planning. With well-defined policies, families reduce the risk of disputes and ensure that the beneficiary’s needs are met consistently over time. Predictability comes from documented procedures for distributions, oversight, and coordination with care professionals. This structure supports stable long-term arrangements, helping beneficiaries maintain routines, therapies, and services with minimal administrative interruption, even when caregivers change or family circumstances shift.
Start by creating a comprehensive inventory of all current benefits, medical supports, and daily routines. Documenting eligibility for Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income, and other programs helps define what the trust should supplement. Include information about medical providers, school services, and supportive programs the beneficiary relies on. This record simplifies trust drafting and helps trustees make distribution decisions that align with existing supports. Regular updates to this inventory keep the trust responsive to changing needs and eligibility rules over time.
Proper funding is essential to the trust’s effectiveness. Review beneficiary designations, retirement account rules, and life insurance policies to ensure proceeds flow as intended. Consider a pour-over will to capture assets not retitled during life. When the trust is funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, be mindful of payback rules and plan accordingly. Periodic reviews of account titles and beneficiary designations help avoid accidental disqualification of benefits and ensure the trust remains the central vehicle for the beneficiary’s long-term support.
Families should consider a special needs trust when a loved one relies on government benefits that could be jeopardized by direct receipt of assets. Trusts are also appropriate when family members want to leave inheritances or settlement proceeds to a beneficiary without disrupting eligibility. Another reason to plan is when caregivers want a clear, legally enforceable structure for long-term management of funds and decision-making. A trust provides a dependable mechanism to supply supplemental support, outline trustee duties, and preserve access to essential public programs over the beneficiary’s lifetime.
Consider establishing a trust if you anticipate complex funding sources, such as life insurance proceeds, retirement account rollovers, or settlement awards. Trust planning is also advisable when parents wish to avoid family conflict by clearly documenting intentions and managing expectations about distributions. For children with lifelong care needs, a trust ensures continuity when primary caregivers are no longer able to provide daily support. Early planning reduces the risk of costly mistakes and provides time to design a sustainable, flexible approach that can adapt to evolving needs and regulatory changes.
Typical circumstances that prompt special needs planning include receiving an inheritance, settlement, or insurance payout that would otherwise disqualify benefits; a change in family caregiving capacity; or a diagnosis that suggests ongoing assistance will be needed. Other situations include parents aging and wanting to secure care after their passing, or families seeking to protect assets from mismanagement while enhancing the beneficiary’s quality of life. In all cases, thoughtful planning reduces the chance of unintentionally eliminating critical government supports.
When a beneficiary stands to receive an inheritance, insurance proceeds, or a legal settlement, placing those funds into a properly structured trust preserves eligibility for government programs. Direct receipt of assets can trigger disqualification, making trust planning essential. A trust can be designed to accept such funds through re-titling, beneficiary designations, or a pour-over will. Working proactively avoids the need for emergency measures and ensures that new resources enhance the beneficiary’s life without risking access to necessary services.
Changes in caregiver availability—such as retirement, relocation, or death—often prompt families to formalize a trust arrangement that provides financial continuity. A trust can name successor trustees and provide guidance on distribution priorities, reducing disruption when caregiving arrangements shift. This stability helps maintain routines and uninterrupted access to therapies, housing, and daily supports, offering reassurance that the beneficiary’s needs remain covered despite changes in family circumstances.
When a beneficiary faces predictable, long-term care needs, a trust provides an organized method for funding ongoing supports such as medical equipment, transportation, and enrichment services. Long-term planning also addresses potential changes in benefits law and allows families to set priorities for spending that reflect the beneficiary’s preferences and lifestyle. This foresight reduces the likelihood of rushed decisions later and helps integrate financial planning with medical, educational, and social supports for a comprehensive care approach.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves families in Citrus, Los Angeles County, and throughout California with personalized special needs trust planning. We focus on practical solutions that protect benefits while addressing day-to-day needs and long-term care goals. Our team helps families draft trust documents, coordinate funding via wills or beneficiary designations, and provide trustee guidance. We also assist with related estate planning documents such as advance health care directives, powers of attorney, and pour-over wills to ensure a cohesive plan that supports the beneficiary and reduces future administrative burden.
Families choose our firm for thoughtful, client-centered guidance in creating durable special needs planning solutions. We emphasize clear communication, careful document drafting, and practical administration plans that reflect each family’s values. Our attorneys work closely with clients to ensure trust provisions complement public benefits, rather than conflicting with them. We take time to explain options for funding trusts and to outline trustee responsibilities so that families can make informed decisions and feel confident about long-term management and care arrangements for their loved ones.
Our practice places priority on coordination with allied professionals, including financial planners, care managers, and social service providers, to develop plans that address the full scope of a beneficiary’s needs. We prepare pour-over wills, advance health care directives, powers of attorney, and other supporting documents that integrate seamlessly with a special needs trust. This holistic approach helps ensure that both financial and medical decision-making are aligned and that transitions in care occur smoothly when circumstances change.
We also provide ongoing trustee support and practical resources for families who may not be comfortable handling administrative duties alone. Whether through coaching, companion documentation, or referrals to trusted nonprofit pooled trust options, we help clients set up durable systems for recordkeeping and distributions. Our goal is to reduce uncertainty, minimize administrative strain, and help families focus on providing the best possible care and enrichment for their loved ones in Citrus and beyond.
Our process begins with an initial consultation to assess the beneficiary’s benefits, medical needs, and family goals. We gather documentation regarding current benefits, asset ownership, and caregiving arrangements to design an appropriate trust structure. After selecting a trust type, we draft documents, recommend funding steps such as beneficiary designation updates or pour-over wills, and discuss trustee selection and duties. We also provide clear instructions for ongoing administration and periodic review to adapt to changes in law or family circumstances, ensuring a durable plan that supports the beneficiary.
The first step focuses on collecting essential information about the beneficiary’s benefits, medical history, income, and current assets. We identify whether funds will come from family contributions, inheritances, insurance, or the beneficiary’s own resources. This detailed fact-finding enables us to recommend the most appropriate trust type and draft provisions that protect benefits while meeting family objectives. We also discuss trustee options, successor planning, and potential tax or beneficiary designation issues that should be addressed at the outset.
Understanding the beneficiary’s current benefit status is fundamental to effective planning. We review Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income, and other public supports to identify limits on income and assets and to determine which types of distributions are permissible. This assessment informs trust language that safeguards eligibility and sets practical distribution priorities. By aligning trust terms with benefits parameters, families can provide supplemental support without triggering disqualification, which preserves access to essential services.
We compile an inventory of assets that may be used to fund the trust, including bank accounts, real property, life insurance, and potential settlement proceeds. Based on the inventory, we recommend actions like retitling accounts, updating beneficiary designations, or establishing a pour-over will. A clear funding plan ensures that assets are transferred into the trust in a way that accomplishes the family’s goals while minimizing probate and preserving benefits. This step helps families understand both immediate and long-range funding implications.
After selecting the trust type and funding strategy, we draft the trust document and any related estate planning instruments. The trust will include provisions for distributions, trustee powers and duties, successor appointments, and, when required, payback language. We review the documents with the family, incorporate feedback, and finalize execution. We also provide implementation guidance, including steps to retitle assets, update account beneficiaries, and coordinate transfers to the trust to ensure that the plan functions as intended.
Document review includes a careful walkthrough of trust provisions, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives so the family understands each component’s role. We hold client meetings to explain trustee responsibilities and distribution conditions and to answer questions about long-term administration. This collaborative review ensures that the documents reflect the family’s priorities and that trustees are prepared for practical decision-making and recordkeeping tasks required to maintain benefits and support the beneficiary effectively.
Once documents are signed, we guide families through the necessary funding steps, such as retitling accounts into the trust name, updating beneficiary designations, or setting up life insurance assignments. We also prepare a summary of action items for trustees and family members to follow. Proper execution and funding are critical to the trust’s effectiveness; our team assists with these technical tasks to ensure assets are accessible for the beneficiary’s supplemental needs while preserving benefits eligibility.
The final step focuses on trust administration and periodic review to address changing circumstances. Trustees receive guidance on permissible distributions, recordkeeping, and coordination with care providers. We recommend periodic reviews to adjust distribution provisions, update successor trustee appointments, and respond to changes in benefits law. Ongoing support options include trustee coaching, annual check-ups, and referrals to pooled trust providers if families prefer nonprofit administration. Regular maintenance keeps the trust aligned with the beneficiary’s evolving needs.
Trustees must keep accurate records of all income and expenditures, track compliance with benefit rules, and prepare for potential reporting obligations. We provide written guidance and templates for bookkeeping and distribution logs that help trustees demonstrate that funds were used to supplement benefits. Good recordkeeping simplifies future reviews, supports transparency with family members, and helps protect the beneficiary’s continued eligibility for public programs by showing responsible administration of trust assets.
Life changes such as shifts in health, family dynamics, or benefits regulations may require adjustments to the plan. We recommend periodic reviews to revisit distribution guidelines, successor trustee appointments, and funding strategies to ensure the trust remains effective. During reviews, we update documents as needed and advise on any necessary retitling or beneficiary designation changes. Staying proactive reduces the risk of benefit disruption and helps families adapt the plan to better serve the beneficiary’s long-term well-being.
A special needs trust is a legal arrangement in which a trustee holds and manages assets for a person with disabilities in a way that supplements, rather than replaces, public benefits. By placing assets in trust instead of giving them directly to the beneficiary, distributions can be made for items like therapy, transportation, education, and recreational activities without counting as income or resources that would disqualify the beneficiary from programs such as Medi-Cal or Supplemental Security Income. Properly drafted trust language specifies permissible uses and guardianship arrangements to safeguard eligibility. Trusts require careful administration to maintain benefits. Trustees must follow distribution rules, maintain clear records, and coordinate with case managers or service providers. Funding methods and the type of trust chosen—first-party, third-party, or pooled—affect payback obligations and flexibility. Consulting with legal counsel helps ensure documents are tailored to the beneficiary’s situation and comply with current state and federal benefit rules, reducing the risk of unintended consequences.
A pooled trust is managed by a nonprofit that combines funds from multiple beneficiaries for investment and administrative purposes while maintaining individual subaccounts for distribution decisions. This structure can offer cost efficiencies and professional administration, which may be attractive for individuals with smaller sums or families seeking hands-off management. Pooled trusts typically provide tailored distributions from the pooled account to meet individual needs while meeting regulatory requirements for benefit preservation. An individual special needs trust is administered for a single beneficiary and can be created by family members or through the beneficiary’s own assets. Individual trusts provide direct control over trustee selection and distribution policies, and they can be structured to meet specific family goals. Deciding between pooled and individual trusts depends on funding levels, desired trustee control, fees, and long-term management preferences.
Naming a child with disabilities as a direct beneficiary of a will can unintentionally disqualify them from means-tested public benefits if they receive assets outright. A direct inheritance may increase countable assets beyond eligibility thresholds, risking loss of Medi-Cal or Supplemental Security Income. To avoid this, many families use a third-party special needs trust funded through a will or a pour-over will that directs probate assets into an established trust designed to preserve benefits. Using a pour-over will ensures that assets pass into the trust after probate, allowing the trustee to manage distributions in a way that supplements benefits without jeopardizing eligibility. This approach requires proper drafting and coordination with other estate planning documents to ensure a smooth transfer and alignment with the family’s care objectives.
The disposition of remaining funds depends on the trust type and the language of the document. For first-party special needs trusts funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, state payback provisions often require reimbursement to the state for public benefits paid on the beneficiary’s behalf after death. Third-party trusts, funded by family members, typically allow remaining funds to pass to named remainder beneficiaries without payback obligations to the state, subject to the trust terms. Trust documents should clearly state remainder beneficiary designations and any limitations on distributions after the beneficiary’s passing. Families should discuss their wishes for leftover funds with their attorney when drafting the trust to ensure those intentions are properly reflected and legally enforceable.
Selecting a trustee involves balancing fiduciary responsibility with an understanding of the beneficiary’s needs. Ideal trustees are reliable, organized, and comfortable coordinating with caregivers and service providers. Family members often serve as trustees, but some families appoint a trusted friend, financial institution, or nonprofit administrator to ensure continuity. Naming successor trustees in the trust document ensures a clear transition plan when the primary trustee can no longer serve. Training and written guidance for trustees help promote consistent administration. Trust documents can include specific distribution guidelines and recordkeeping requirements to ease the trustee’s duties. Where families prefer outside administration, nonprofit pooled trusts or professional fiduciaries may provide structured support and continuity.
Leaving retirement accounts to a special needs trust requires careful planning because retirement distributions can affect means-tested benefits. Directly naming a trust as a retirement account beneficiary may trigger required minimum distributions and tax consequences that impact the trust and the beneficiary. Strategies to coordinate retirement assets with special needs planning include designing the trust to handle required tax distributions and considering whether certain accounts should remain payable to an individual or to a design that reduces unintended impacts on benefits. Consulting with both estate and tax counsel helps families evaluate options and draft trust language that anticipates tax obligations and distribution timing. Proper coordination minimizes surprises and ensures retirement proceeds supplement the beneficiary’s needs while harmonizing with public benefits considerations.
Funding a special needs trust without jeopardizing benefits involves using appropriate vehicles and retitling accounts so that the beneficiary does not have direct ownership. Third-party funds from family members can be placed into the trust without payback requirements, while first-party funds require trust structures that meet statutory payback criteria. Avoiding direct cash gifts to the beneficiary and instead channeling resources through the trust preserves eligibility for programs that assess income and assets. In addition to retitling accounts, families should update beneficiary designations on life insurance and retirement accounts, and consider pour-over wills to capture probate assets. A deliberate funding plan, paired with careful drafting, ensures that assets are available for supplemental needs without triggering disqualification from essential services.
Creating a special needs trust should not eliminate all public benefits when the documents are properly drafted and administered. The trust is intended to supplement benefits by paying for items and services that do not count as income or resources for eligibility purposes. Trustees must be aware of the rules governing permissible distributions and ensure that payments complement, rather than replace, services provided by government programs. However, improper distributions or misfunding can jeopardize benefits. That is why ongoing trustee education, careful recordkeeping, and periodic legal reviews are essential. Regular oversight helps maintain compliance with benefit rules and ensures the trust continues to serve its intended protective function.
Trust documents should be reviewed periodically and whenever significant life events occur, such as a change in caregiving arrangements, substantial asset transfers, or shifts in benefits eligibility. Laws and regulations governing public benefits can change, which may necessitate updates to trust language or funding strategies. An annual or biennial check-in helps ensure distributions and trustee practices remain aligned with current rules and the beneficiary’s needs. Major family changes like a move, death of a trustee, or new significant assets should prompt an immediate review. Proactive reassessment prevents unintended consequences and allows families to adjust the trust to better meet evolving care, financial, and legal circumstances.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman assists families with the full range of special needs planning services, including drafting first-party and third-party trusts, coordinating pour-over wills, and preparing supporting documents like advance health care directives and powers of attorney. We guide families through funding steps, trustee selection, and administration practices that protect benefits while enhancing the beneficiary’s quality of life. Our approach emphasizes clear communication and practical solutions tailored to each family’s priorities. We also offer ongoing trustee support, periodic plan reviews, and referrals to nonprofit pooled trust providers when appropriate. By working with allied professionals, we help integrate financial, medical, and social supports into a cohesive plan that reduces administrative burdens and helps families focus on caregiving and meaningful daily activities for their loved ones.
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