A special needs trust provides a structured way to protect assets for a loved one with disabilities while preserving their eligibility for public benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, our team assists families in Culver City and across Los Angeles County in designing trusts that reflect their priorities and maintain important government benefits. This introduction outlines what a special needs trust does, who can benefit from one, and key considerations in planning. We emphasize clarity in documentation, thoughtful selection of trustees, and a commitment to long-term financial security for the beneficiary.
Choosing the right trust structure requires careful thought about goals, asset types, and the beneficiary’s future needs. Families often seek a trust when they want to provide for quality of life expenses, education, therapy, or supplemental care without disrupting public benefit eligibility. Our approach is to listen to each family’s unique situation, explain practical options such as first-party and third-party special needs trusts, and create straightforward trust language that trustees can administer reliably. We also review supporting documents like powers of attorney and health care directives to ensure the overall estate plan works together for the individual’s benefit.
A properly drafted special needs trust helps families secure a better quality of life for a loved one with disabilities while maintaining access to vital government programs. It allows funds to be used for supplemental needs that public benefits do not cover, such as therapies, transportation, recreational activities, and personal items. The trust offers flexibility in distributions and can protect assets from unexpected creditors or changes in family circumstances. For many families, this planning reduces anxiety about future care, provides a clear framework for trustees, and creates continuity in support across transitions in living arrangements or changes in benefits.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients throughout California with a focus on practical, compassionate estate planning solutions. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling special needs trust matters, assisting families with creation, funding, and trustee guidance. We prioritize clear communication and plain-language documents that make administration smoother for trustees and caregivers. Families work closely with us to tailor plans that reflect their financial picture and the beneficiary’s long-term needs. Our aim is to reduce legal complexity while delivering durable plans that integrate with other estate planning documents like wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives.
Special needs trusts are designed to hold assets for a person with disabilities without disqualifying them from means-tested benefits. There are different kinds of trusts, including third-party trusts funded by family members and first-party trusts funded with the beneficiary’s own assets. Each serves a distinct role depending on whether the funds come from an inheritance, a legal settlement, or personal savings. The trust document specifies permitted uses, discretionary distribution rules, and repayment terms if required by law. Properly structured trusts help families coordinate benefits and supplemental support in a predictable, legally compliant way.
Creating a special needs trust involves more than drafting a document; it requires planning for funding, naming a trustee, and establishing distribution standards that align with benefit rules. Trustees must understand which expenditures enhance quality of life but do not count as income for benefits calculations. Additionally, trusts should include provisions for successor trustees and accounting requirements to maintain transparency. Regular review of the plan is also important to adapt to changes in public benefit rules, the beneficiary’s needs, or family circumstances. Ongoing planner involvement ensures the trust continues to meet the intended goals over time.
A special needs trust, sometimes called a supplemental needs trust, is a legal arrangement that holds assets for a person with disabilities and allows distributions for items and services that enhance quality of life without undermining eligibility for means-tested public benefits. The trust protects the assets and directs how funds should be used, authorizing the trustee to make discretionary distributions for housing, education, therapy, transportation, and other supplemental expenses. It can be tailored with specific language to align with the beneficiary’s needs and the family’s intentions, and it often works alongside wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives to form a comprehensive plan.
Essential elements of a special needs trust include clear beneficiary identification, trustee appointment, defined distribution standards, funding instructions, and successor trustee provisions. The process typically begins with a planning meeting to assess assets and benefits, followed by drafting and execution of the trust, transfer of assets into the trust, and guidance for trustees on administration and reporting. Additional steps may involve seeking court approval when necessary, preparing supporting documents like a certification of trust, and coordinating with financial institutions to retitle assets. A robust process anticipates future needs and reduces risk of benefit disqualification.
Understanding key terms helps families navigate the legal and practical aspects of special needs trusts. Terms commonly used in this area include third-party trust, first-party trust, payback provisions, trustee discretion, means-tested benefits, and certification of trust. Familiarity with these concepts enables better decision making when selecting distribution rules, naming trustees, and funding the trust. Clear explanations reduce uncertainty and improve communication among family members, trustees, and advisors. This section provides plain-language definitions to help you feel confident about the choices you make in your planning.
A third-party special needs trust is established and funded by someone other than the beneficiary, often a parent or other family member, to provide supplemental support without affecting public benefit eligibility. Assets placed in a third-party trust are not subject to payback to Medicaid after the beneficiary’s death, unless the trust terms require otherwise. This trust can be funded during life or through provisions in a will or estate plan. It offers families a flexible way to plan for long-term support, direct distributions for specific purposes, and appoint trusted individuals to manage resources for the beneficiary’s benefit.
A first-party special needs trust is funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, often from an inheritance, settlement, or saving, and is designed to preserve eligibility for means-tested benefits. These trusts typically include a payback provision that requires reimbursement to the state for certain public benefits received after the beneficiary’s death, as required by law. First-party trusts must meet specific statutory requirements to be valid. They provide a path for individuals who receive assets directly to have those resources managed in a way that supplements public benefits rather than replacing them.
A certification of trust is a condensed document that summarizes key details of the trust for financial institutions and third parties without revealing the full trust instrument. It typically includes information about the trust’s existence, the trustee’s authority, and the trust’s tax identification number, while omitting beneficiary distributions and confidential provisions. Using a certification of trust can simplify asset transfers, reduce privacy concerns, and speed transactions with banks and investment firms. Institutions often accept the certification instead of the full trust to verify the trustee’s power to act on behalf of the trust.
A payback provision is a clause commonly found in first-party special needs trusts that requires repayment to the state for certain public benefits such as Medicaid after the beneficiary dies. The amount repaid typically equals benefits provided to the beneficiary during their lifetime, subject to applicable statutes. Including a payback provision ensures the trust meets legal requirements for protecting eligibility while also addressing transitional planning at the end of the beneficiary’s life. Families creating first-party trusts should understand how payback terms impact remaining assets and coordinate with heirs and trustees about expectations.
When planning for a loved one with disabilities, families often weigh different legal mechanisms including third-party trusts, first-party trusts, ABLE accounts, and outright gifts combined with powers of attorney. Each option has different implications for benefit eligibility, tax treatment, and flexibility of distributions. Third-party trusts generally permit greater control and avoid payback requirements, while first-party trusts preserve benefits when the beneficiary receives assets personally. ABLE accounts offer tax-advantaged savings for qualified disability expenses but have contribution and eligibility limits. Comparing options helps families select the combination that best meets long-term goals and practical realities.
A limited planning approach can be satisfactory when the beneficiary has modest supplemental needs, reliable public benefits, and a straightforward financial picture. In such cases, simple tools like a trust funded with modest assets, an advance health care directive, and a power of attorney may provide adequate protection without complex arrangements. Families with limited resources or uncomplicated goals may prefer a streamlined plan that reduces administrative burden while still addressing the beneficiary’s likely needs. Regular review remains important to respond to changes in benefits or the beneficiary’s circumstances.
When financial needs are temporary or arise from short-term circumstances such as a small settlement or brief inheritance, a limited approach may be appropriate to manage funds until long-term strategies are necessary. Families can use targeted trusts, clear spending guidelines, and coordinated documentation to protect benefits in the near term without creating overly complex structures. This measured approach allows time to assess the beneficiary’s evolving needs and to decide later whether a more comprehensive trust is warranted, while maintaining careful records and trustee guidance during the interim period.
Comprehensive planning is generally advisable when the beneficiary’s financial picture involves multiple asset types, significant resources, or potential future funding sources like retirement accounts or insurance proceeds. Detailed planning helps coordinate how each asset should be titled or transferred, design distribution standards that align with benefit rules, and integrate supporting documents such as pour-over wills and retirement plan trusts. A full plan reduces the risk of benefit interruptions, protects assets against future claims, and clarifies responsibilities for trustees, beneficiaries, and family members over the long term.
A comprehensive approach is also appropriate when long-term care needs, potential changes in medical support, or evolving benefit rules are anticipated. This planning includes contingency language for successor trustees, provisions for trustee compensation and accounting, and instructions about housing, employment support, and future medical expenses. Preparing for multiple scenarios helps families maintain stability in the beneficiary’s life and reduce administrative disruption. It also enables strategic funding and asset protection that align with broader estate planning goals and family priorities.
A comprehensive approach creates an integrated plan that addresses financial, medical, and legal aspects of care for a person with disabilities. It reduces the chance of unintended benefit loss, clarifies who will make decisions and how distributions should be handled, and protects assets from mismanagement or creditor claims. Comprehensive planning also considers future contingencies, ensuring that successor trustees and fallback provisions are in place. Overall, this approach provides families with a durable framework that coordinates trust provisions with wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives for cohesive long-term support.
Beyond asset protection, a comprehensive plan enhances peace of mind by documenting family intentions and establishing processes for regular review and communication among trustees and caregivers. It can include guidance on navigating public benefits, record-keeping standards, and tax considerations to reduce surprises. When unexpected events occur, a fully considered plan allows for timely decisions and minimizes disruptions to the beneficiary’s care. Families who invest in comprehensive planning often find it easier to manage transitions in living arrangements, aging caregivers, and changing financial circumstances with confidence and clarity.
One major benefit of a comprehensive plan is clear coordination with means-tested public benefits so that trust distributions enhance, rather than jeopardize, eligibility. Careful drafting establishes permissible distributions for supplemental needs while avoiding income or resource treatments that could disrupt benefits. Trustees receive guidance on acceptable expenditures and record-keeping, and the trust can be structured to respond to changes in laws or benefits. This coordination preserves vital government supports while allowing families to provide additional comfort and services for the beneficiary.
A comprehensive plan also builds administrative clarity to ensure continuity over time. Thoughtful provisions for successor trustees, reporting requirements, dispute resolution, and trustee compensation reduce confusion and conflict. Detailed instructions about funding sources and interactions with other estate documents make asset transfers simpler and protect the beneficiary’s interests. This long-term orientation helps families avoid rushed decisions during crises and supports steady, well-documented trust administration that benefits the person with disabilities and their support network.
Begin special needs planning as early as possible to allow time for thoughtful decisions and funding strategies. Early planning reduces last-minute errors and gives families a chance to discuss goals and responsibilities with potential trustees and beneficiaries. Communicate clearly with relatives and caregivers about the plan’s purpose and the practical implications for benefit eligibility and day-to-day support. Having designated decision-makers and written instructions helps prevent confusion later and ensures everyone understands how distributions should be used to support the beneficiary’s needs and quality of life.
Make sure special needs trust provisions work harmoniously with wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and beneficiary designations on retirement accounts. Pour-over wills and retirement plan trusts can be used to fund third-party arrangements on death, while powers of attorney and health care directives clarify who will make financial and medical decisions when needed. Regularly review beneficiary designations and titling of assets to avoid unintended disqualifications. Coordination reduces legal friction and ensures assets flow to the intended trust structure at the right time.
Families should consider a special needs trust when there is a desire to provide for a loved one’s supplemental needs without endangering eligibility for means-tested programs. Situations that commonly prompt this planning include receiving an inheritance, settlement proceeds, retirement funds, or gifts that could push the beneficiary over resource limits. A trust helps direct funds for housing, therapies, education, and personal items that public benefits typically do not cover. It also provides a legal framework to appoint trustees who will manage those resources responsibly over the beneficiary’s lifetime.
Consider a special needs trust if you want to formalize long-term support, create clearer expectations among family members, or protect assets from potential creditors or claims. Trusts can be structured to address changing needs, include contingency plans, and provide for successor trustees to ensure continuity. Families facing uncertain future needs, complex assets, or concerns about preserving public benefits often find that well-drafted trusts reduce stress and clarify financial management. Planning early also gives more options for funding and integration with other estate planning documents.
Common circumstances include receiving a personal injury settlement, inheriting assets, having savings designated to a person with a disability, or anticipating ongoing care needs that public benefits will not fully cover. Families also turn to trusts when parents age and want to ensure continuity of care, or when a beneficiary faces changing medical or living arrangements. Planning provides a method to manage assets, protect eligibility, and provide discretion in distributions so the beneficiary’s quality of life can be supplemented without losing vital government support.
When a beneficiary receives inheritance money or settlement funds, those assets can jeopardize eligibility for Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income unless properly managed. A special needs trust offers a vehicle to receive and hold those funds while still qualifying for benefits. Drafting the trust according to statutory requirements and implementing a reliable funding strategy helps protect the beneficiary’s support. Trustees can use the funds for permitted supplemental items and services, preserving the beneficiary’s benefits while improving their quality of life through thoughtful distributions.
As parents or caregivers age, ensuring continuity of decision-making and financial support becomes a primary concern. A special needs trust clarifies who will manage the beneficiary’s resources, sets out successor trustees, and provides instructions for ongoing administration. This structure reduces the likelihood of disruption if a caregiver becomes incapacitated or passes away. Early planning allows families to select trustees and make funding arrangements that preserve the beneficiary’s benefits and ensure stable support during transitions in caregiving and living arrangements.
Families often need a trust when coordinating private resources with public benefits, because even modest increases in countable assets can affect eligibility for programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. A properly drafted trust separates supplemental resources from countable assets and provides guidelines for permissible distributions. Trustees learn how to manage payments for services and one-time expenses in a way that complements public benefits. This coordination maximizes overall support while safeguarding access to essential programs on which many beneficiaries rely.
We provide special needs trust planning for Culver City and the surrounding Los Angeles County communities, offering personalized guidance tailored to local resources and benefit rules. Our team helps families identify appropriate funding strategies, draft trust documents, coordinate with public benefit agencies, and prepare trustees for administration duties. Whether you are planning ahead or responding to an immediate financial event, we work to ensure the trust aligns with your goals and supports the beneficiary’s quality of life. Reach out to discuss how trust planning can fit into your broader estate plan.
Clients choose the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman for clear, practical trust planning and ongoing support for trustees and families. We focus on creating durable documents that anticipate future needs and minimize administrative uncertainty. Our attorneys guide clients through funding strategies, trustee training, and coordination with public benefit agencies. We emphasize plain-language instructions and realistic planning to help families implement and maintain trusts effectively over time. Our goal is to provide a straightforward path to protecting a loved one’s financial security and quality of life.
Our team assists clients with related estate planning documents that must work together with a special needs trust, including wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. We help ensure beneficiary designations, retirement accounts, and asset titling are aligned to fund trusts as intended. Families receive practical advice on trustee duties, reporting, and permissible distributions so administration is consistent and compliant with benefit programs. This integrated approach reduces surprises and helps families maintain support for the beneficiary across life changes and transitions.
We also offer guidance on successor planning and long-term administration to help families adapt to evolving needs and legal changes. Whether addressing an inheritance, a settlement, or retirement assets, we design solutions that prioritize the beneficiary’s ongoing support and program eligibility. Through clear documentation and trustee guidance, families gain confidence that resources will be used thoughtfully and according to their intentions. Our practice emphasizes accessible communication and practical planning so families can focus on care and daily needs.
Our process begins with a detailed consultation to review the beneficiary’s needs, current benefits, and available assets. We develop a plan that specifies whether a first-party or third-party trust is appropriate, draft the trust instrument, and advise on funding and titling assets. We also prepare supporting documents like powers of attorney and health care directives, provide trustee guidance on allowable distributions, and assist with interactions with benefits agencies. After implementation, we remain available for revisions and trustee questions to ensure the plan continues to function for the beneficiary’s benefit.
The initial assessment covers the beneficiary’s current benefit status, income and asset picture, family goals, and potential future needs. We identify sources of funds that may require trust protection and discuss the types of trusts available. This meeting sets priorities for drafting and funding, and helps determine trustee preferences and reporting expectations. We also review beneficiary designations and other estate documents to ensure consistency. The outcome is a clear plan of action that outlines next steps for document preparation and asset transfers.
We analyze the beneficiary’s current benefit programs, income limits, and resource thresholds to determine how trust distributions will interact with eligibility rules. This review helps shape distribution standards and funding strategies that preserve benefits while supplementing the beneficiary’s quality of life. Understanding the financial picture allows us to recommend asset titling changes, beneficiary designation adjustments, and timing for transfers to avoid unintended disqualifications. Our goal is to design a trust that responds to the beneficiary’s needs in a stable, legally compliant manner.
Based on the assessment, we recommend whether a third-party or first-party trust is appropriate and identify which assets should be transferred into the trust. We consider inheritances, settlement proceeds, retirement accounts, and personal savings when planning funding strategies. The recommendation balances protection of benefits, administrative ease, and family intentions. Clear instructions for funding, including beneficiary designations and retitling, are drafted to ensure that the trust receives the intended assets efficiently and in accordance with the overall estate plan.
During this step we prepare the trust document and any complementary estate planning instruments such as a pour-over will, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. The trust includes distribution standards, trustee powers, successor designations, and funding instructions. We coordinate signings, notarization, and execution formalities required under California law. After documents are executed, we provide trustees with copies, a certification of trust if needed, and guidance on initial administration tasks to ensure a smooth transition and proper trust funding.
We draft clear, practical trust provisions that define permissible distributions, trustee authority, and reporting requirements. Supporting documents such as a certification of trust, pour-over will, and healthcare directives are prepared to integrate the trust into the wider estate plan. The goal is to create documents that trustees can follow with confidence and that financial institutions will accept when transferring assets. Precision in drafting reduces ambiguity and helps trustees fulfill their duties while protecting benefit eligibility.
Once documents are signed, we work with clients and institutions to transfer or retitle assets into the trust, change beneficiary designations as appropriate, and provide the trustee with necessary documentation. Proper execution and funding are essential to ensure the trust functions as intended. We assist with bank, investment, and insurance account changes, and verify that transfers comply with legal requirements. After funding, trustees receive instructions on record-keeping and permissible expenses to maintain benefits and manage distributions effectively.
After the trust is established and funded, we provide ongoing guidance to trustees and families to ensure proper administration and compliance with benefit rules. This includes assistance with distribution decisions, record-keeping practices, and responses to benefit agency inquiries. Periodic plan reviews are recommended to address changes in law, the beneficiary’s needs, or family circumstances. Continued support helps trustees administer the trust responsibly and helps families adjust the plan as necessary to protect and enhance the beneficiary’s quality of life.
We provide trustees with hands-on guidance about permissible distributions, bookkeeping practices, and interactions with government benefits offices. Trustees learn which expenses typically enhance quality of life and how to document expenditures to avoid challenges from benefits administrators. Practical templates for records and reporting are supplied to simplify ongoing administration. Clear instructions help trustees make informed discretionary distributions and maintain transparency, which reduces disputes and helps preserve benefit eligibility for the beneficiary.
Regular reviews ensure the trust continues to meet the beneficiary’s needs and adapts to changes in benefit rules, financial circumstances, or family dynamics. We recommend periodic check-ins to update distribution standards, successor trustee provisions, and funding arrangements. Adjustments may be necessary when new assets are acquired, when caregivers change, or when public benefits are modified. Ongoing attention helps avoid lapses in support and preserves the effectiveness of the plan across the beneficiary’s lifetime and beyond.
A special needs trust is a legal vehicle designed to hold assets for a person with disabilities while allowing them to remain eligible for means-tested government benefits like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. The trust sets out rules for discretionary distributions for items and services that enhance quality of life but are not counted as income or resources for benefits purposes. It shields assets from being treated as the beneficiary’s countable resources, provided the trust is properly drafted and administered according to applicable rules. Establishing the trust requires careful attention to legal requirements, trustee duties, and documentation of distributions. Trustees must understand permitted uses and keep clear records to demonstrate that funds supplement rather than replace public benefits. With the correct structure and guidance, a trust preserves benefits while enabling supplemental support for the beneficiary’s needs.
A first-party special needs trust is funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, such as an inheritance or settlement, and typically includes a payback provision that requires reimbursement to the state for certain public benefits after the beneficiary’s death. It must meet strict statutory requirements to protect benefits. A third-party special needs trust, in contrast, is funded by someone other than the beneficiary, often a parent or other family member, and usually does not require payback to the state, allowing remaining assets to pass to other named beneficiaries. Choosing between these trusts depends on the source of funds and family goals. First-party trusts preserve eligibility when the beneficiary receives assets directly, while third-party trusts are commonly used in estate plans to leave supplemental resources for the beneficiary without payback obligations. Each type has distinct drafting and funding considerations.
Funding a special needs trust without jeopardizing benefits involves careful planning about the timing and method of transfers. When assets come from an outside source like a parent’s estate, directing those assets into a third-party trust through a will or beneficiary designation avoids the beneficiary ever holding countable resources. For assets the beneficiary receives directly, creating a properly structured first-party trust and transferring the funds promptly can preserve eligibility, provided statutory rules are followed. It’s also important to retitle accounts and adjust beneficiary designations when necessary so that funds flow to the trust rather than to the beneficiary personally. Coordination with financial institutions and clear documentation helps ensure transfers are accepted and the trust is recognized as the account or asset owner, which protects benefits while enabling supplemental support.
A trustee should be someone who is reliable, organized, and comfortable with fiduciary responsibilities. Common choices include a trusted family member, a friend, or a corporate fiduciary; sometimes a combination is used to balance personal knowledge and administrative continuity. The trustee’s duties include managing trust assets, making distributions according to the trust’s standards, keeping records, filing necessary reports, and coordinating with benefit agencies when needed. Trustees should be provided with clear written guidance and templates for record-keeping to reduce uncertainty. It is also sensible to name successor trustees and specify how decisions should be made to minimize conflicts. Trustees can seek professional advice for complex investments, tax issues, or disputes while following the trust’s instructions to maintain the beneficiary’s program eligibility.
A properly drafted and administered special needs trust is specifically designed to preserve a beneficiary’s eligibility for Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income by keeping funds in a trust rather than in the beneficiary’s name. The trust must meet certain legal requirements and be used to cover supplemental needs that do not count as income or resources under benefit rules. Trustee discretion and careful record-keeping play important roles in preventing inadvertent disqualification from benefits. However, certain types of distributions or improper funding can impact eligibility. For example, if assets are given directly to the beneficiary or if a trust is not structured correctly, benefits could be jeopardized. Regular review and trustee education help maintain compliance with benefit program rules and protect continued access to necessary services.
Retirement accounts and life insurance can be used to fund a special needs trust, but they require careful planning to avoid adverse tax consequences and preserve benefits. Retirement accounts often need to name a trust as beneficiary in a way that aligns with required minimum distribution rules and tax considerations. A properly drafted retirement plan trust can help channel retirement benefits into supplemental care while addressing tax treatment and distribution timing. Life insurance policies can be structured to provide proceeds to a third-party special needs trust upon the insured’s death, offering a predictable funding source for long-term support. Working with advisors to set beneficiary designations and account titling correctly is essential to ensure funds flow into the trust as intended without unintentionally counting as the beneficiary’s resources before being protected.
A payback provision requires that, upon the beneficiary’s death, remaining assets in a first-party special needs trust be used to reimburse the state for certain public benefits provided during the beneficiary’s lifetime. This provision is often required by law for trusts funded with the beneficiary’s own assets and ensures compliance with Medicaid recovery rules. The payback amount typically reflects benefits paid on behalf of the beneficiary and must be drafted to meet statutory requirements. Families using third-party trusts usually avoid payback obligations, allowing remaining assets to pass to other beneficiaries as directed. Understanding the impact of payback provisions is important when choosing how to fund a trust and when discussing intentions with heirs and trustees, since it affects how remaining funds will be distributed after the beneficiary’s lifetime.
Special needs trusts should be reviewed periodically, particularly when there are changes in the beneficiary’s needs, family circumstances, or public benefit rules. Life events such as inheritances, settlements, changes in caregiver status, or updates to government programs can necessitate revisions to distribution standards, trustee provisions, or funding arrangements. We recommend scheduled reviews at least every few years and prompt review after significant life events to ensure the plan remains effective and compliant. Regular updates help maintain alignment with tax laws, benefit eligibility criteria, and the family’s intentions. Reviews also provide an opportunity to refresh trustee guidance, update contact information for service providers, and confirm that asset titling and beneficiary designations continue to support the trust’s long-term goals.
A special needs trust can be used alongside an ABLE account, and in many cases the two complement each other. ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts for qualified disability expenses with annual contribution limits and qualifications based on age of disability onset. Families may use an ABLE account for smaller, routine expenses while using a trust for larger or more flexible supplemental needs, depending on funding limits and long-term planning goals. Coordination requires understanding contribution limits, resource counting rules, and how ABLE account balances affect benefit eligibility. Combining an ABLE account with a trust can provide both immediate access to funds for daily needs and structured long-term protection for larger assets, giving families a versatile set of tools for ongoing support.
To start creating a special needs trust in Culver City, begin with an initial consultation to review the beneficiary’s current benefits, asset picture, and family goals. Gather documents such as account statements, insurance policies, existing estate planning documents, and any settlement information. During the consultation we will discuss whether a first-party or third-party trust is appropriate and outline steps for drafting, executing, and funding the trust. After the planning session, we prepare the trust and supporting documents, coordinate signings, and assist with retitling assets or changing beneficiary designations as needed. We also provide trustee guidance and ongoing review to ensure proper administration and continued alignment with the beneficiary’s needs and benefit rules.
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