Planning for a loved one with disabilities requires careful attention to both legal protections and long-term financial security. A special needs trust is a legal tool designed to hold assets for a person with disabilities while preserving their eligibility for public benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. This page explains how a special needs trust works, who benefits from it, and the key decisions families must make when creating and funding the trust. The goal is to provide useful, practical information so families can make informed decisions about protecting a vulnerable family member’s future needs and quality of life.
This guide covers the primary types of special needs trusts, common funding strategies, and important drafting considerations specific to California and communities like Lake of the Pines. It also explains how the trust interacts with estate planning documents such as wills, revocable living trusts, power of attorney, and advance health care directives. Whether you are beginning planning, updating an existing plan, or evaluating options after an inheritance or settlement, this overview will help you understand the steps involved and the questions to ask when arranging long-term support and benefits coordination for a person with disabilities.
A special needs trust provides financial support without disqualifying a beneficiary from means-tested public benefits. By holding assets within the trust, the trustee can pay for supplemental needs such as education, therapy, transportation, adaptive equipment, and quality-of-life items that public programs do not cover. Trusts also create a framework for long-term planning, successor trustees, and contingent distributions if circumstances change. For many families, this arrangement reduces uncertainty and helps ensure that resources are used consistently with the beneficiary’s needs and preferences while maintaining access to critical government programs that cover day-to-day care and medical needs.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman offers estate planning services tailored to individuals and families in Nevada County and surrounding communities. The firm helps clients draft revocable living trusts, last wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and a range of trust instruments including special needs trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, and trust certification documents. With a focus on clear communication and practical planning, the office guides families through options for funding trusts, appointing trustees, and coordinating documents to protect a loved one’s public benefits while preserving assets for future needs and care.
A special needs trust is a legal arrangement in which assets are managed by a trustee for the benefit of an individual with disabilities. The trust’s language specifies permissible uses for trust funds that supplement, rather than replace, public benefits. Trustees make distributions for items such as medical co-payments, therapies, transportation, education, and enrichment activities. Importantly, the trust must be carefully drafted to avoid direct cash distributions that would be counted as income for eligibility purposes. A properly crafted trust helps families balance private resources and public benefits to maximize overall support for the beneficiary.
There are different forms of special needs trusts, including first-party trusts funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, third-party trusts funded by family members, and pooled trusts administered by nonprofit organizations. Each type carries different rules and planning implications under California law and federal benefit programs. Key considerations include how distributions are made, whether the trust must contain a payback provision for Medicaid, and how successor trustees and contingent beneficiaries are named. Understanding these distinctions helps families select the appropriate vehicle for their circumstances and goals.
A special needs trust is a legal instrument that preserves a beneficiary’s eligibility for means-tested public benefits while allowing supplemental support from private funds. The trust holds assets for the individual with disabilities and restricts distributions in ways that avoid affecting eligibility for programs like Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income. Trustees have discretion to use trust funds for supplemental goods and services not provided by government benefits. Clear trustee powers, spending standards, and trust administration rules are essential to ensure the trust serves the beneficiary’s needs without unintended consequences for benefits eligibility.
Key elements of a special needs trust include the beneficiary designation, trustee selection and powers, distribution standards, funding sources, and any required Medicaid payback language. Administration involves record-keeping, prudent investment of trust assets, regular communication with the beneficiary and family, and coordination with public benefit rules. Trustees must understand the limits on permissible distributions and maintain documentation showing how funds were used for supplemental needs. Periodic review of the trust and its funding strategy ensures the arrangement remains consistent with changing laws, benefits rules, and the beneficiary’s needs over time.
Understanding common terms helps families navigate special needs trust planning and communicate effectively with advisors and trustees. This glossary includes essential concepts such as payback provisions, third-party versus first-party trusts, pooled trusts, trustee discretion, guardian and conservator relationships, and interactions with Medi-Cal and SSI. Familiarity with these terms supports informed decision-making about how to fund the trust, which distributions are appropriate, and what documentation trustees should keep. Clear language in the trust document helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures the beneficiary’s access to both private resources and public benefits.
A first-party special needs trust is funded with assets that belong to the beneficiary, such as an inheritance, settlement proceeds, or savings. These trusts often include a Medicaid payback provision requiring leftover funds to be used to reimburse the state for benefits provided after the beneficiary’s death. This format allows the beneficiary to accept funds without losing eligibility for means-tested programs. Careful drafting and timely administration are required to ensure the trust meets legal standards and preserves the individual’s access to essential public resources while allowing for supplemental support.
A third-party special needs trust is created and funded by someone other than the beneficiary, commonly a parent or family member. Because the trust uses third-party assets, it generally does not require a Medicaid payback provision and remaining funds can be distributed to heirs or charities as directed by the trust. This structure allows family members to provide long-term supplemental support while protecting eligibility for public benefits. Clear instructions in the trust document guide trustees on permissible uses, successor trustees, and funding strategies to meet the beneficiary’s ongoing needs.
A pooled trust is managed by a nonprofit organization that combines and administers funds from multiple beneficiaries while maintaining separate accounts for each individual. This option can be useful when a family prefers a nonprofit trustee rather than a private individual. Pooled trusts may accept both first-party and third-party funds, depending on the program and trust rules. They offer economies of scale for administration and investment, while ensuring distributions are tailored to each beneficiary’s needs and consistent with preserving eligibility for public benefits.
Trustee duties include managing trust assets prudently, making distributions that supplement rather than replace public benefits, maintaining accurate records, and communicating with beneficiaries and family members. Distribution standards should be clearly defined to cover education, therapy, transportation, medical equipment, housing-related costs, and other quality-of-life items while avoiding direct cash transfers that could jeopardize benefit eligibility. Trustees must be familiar with applicable benefit rules and coordinate with legal and financial advisors to administer the trust consistent with its purpose and the beneficiary’s needs.
Choosing between a first-party trust, third-party trust, pooled trust, or alternative planning strategies requires evaluating the source of funds, the beneficiary’s current and future needs, and the family’s long-range objectives. Third-party trusts are often preferred when family members wish to leave assets for a beneficiary without Medicaid payback. First-party trusts preserve benefits when the beneficiary receives assets directly, while pooled trusts may be appropriate when a nonprofit trustee or consolidated administration is desirable. A thoughtful comparison addresses tax considerations, administrative capacity, and how the arrangement affects public benefit eligibility.
A limited approach can work when the beneficiary’s needs are modest or funding is for a short-term purpose such as a specific therapy, short rehabilitation, or a temporary assistance need. When the assets involved are small and unlikely to affect long-term benefits eligibility, a narrowly tailored plan may reduce complexity and administrative costs. Families should still document the purpose of funds and consider a simple trust or custodial arrangement that preserves access to public benefits while addressing an immediate need, always keeping records of distributions and coordination with benefit programs.
If family members intend to provide day-to-day support and can manage distributions informally, a limited legal arrangement might suffice initially. This approach can avoid unnecessary legal complexity when family caregivers are able and willing to handle supplemental needs directly. However, informal support lacks formal protections for future changes such as caregiver incapacity or disagreement among relatives. Even when a limited approach is chosen, documenting intentions and creating a fallback plan such as a simple trust or power of attorney can help ensure continuity of care and protect the beneficiary’s access to public benefits.
A comprehensive plan coordinates estate documents, trust provisions, and benefit eligibility to provide long-term security for a beneficiary with disabilities. By integrating a special needs trust with a revocable living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and health care directives, families create a cohesive plan that addresses funding, decision-making, and contingencies. This integrated approach reduces the risk of assets unintentionally disqualifying benefits and clarifies the roles of trustees and agents across different scenarios. It also helps families anticipate changes in care needs and legal rules over time.
Comprehensive planning identifies successor trustees and decision-makers to ensure continuity of care if primary caregivers are no longer able to serve. Naming responsible agents and creating procedures for trustee transition reduces stress during challenging times and helps maintain consistent support for the beneficiary. Comprehensive documents can include provisions for trustee compensation, oversight mechanisms, and contingencies for guardianship or conservatorship if needed. Clear planning reduces disputes and provides a roadmap for future caregivers and fiduciaries, protecting both the beneficiary and the family’s intentions.
An integrated plan brings clarity and long-term stability, ensuring that assets intended for a beneficiary are used to enhance quality of life without jeopardizing access to government benefits. It also simplifies tax planning, clarifies authority for financial and health decisions, and provides mechanisms to adapt as the beneficiary’s needs evolve. Families benefit from having a documented strategy that outlines trustee responsibilities, spending priorities, and how assets will be managed and distributed after the beneficiary’s death, supporting both immediate and future needs while reducing uncertainty and conflict.
Comprehensive planning helps preserve family resources by avoiding costly mistakes and minimizing the need for emergency court proceedings. Coordinating a special needs trust with other estate planning tools mitigates the risk of unintended ineligibility for public benefits and ensures that asset transfers occur according to the family’s wishes. The approach also supports ongoing oversight, clear communication among caregivers, and a consistent framework for managing benefits and supplemental resources throughout the beneficiary’s lifetime and beyond.
A properly crafted special needs trust protects eligibility for programs like Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income while allowing funds to be used for supplemental goods and services. Trustee-directed distributions can pay for therapies, adaptive equipment, travel, and social enrichment that government benefits do not cover. This dual focus preserves the baseline support provided by public programs while allowing families to improve the beneficiary’s standard of living through carefully administered private resources. The result is greater stability and improved opportunities for the individual’s personal development and comfort.
Comprehensive legal planning reduces family stress by establishing clear roles, distribution rules, and decision-making pathways for the beneficiary’s care. When trustees and agents have documented authority and guidance, disagreements are less likely to disrupt support. Family members gain confidence from knowing their loved one’s finances and benefits are managed according to an agreed plan. The clarity provided by legal documents also helps when broader family members, service providers, or government agencies need to coordinate care or verify authorization for medical and financial decisions.
Identify and document how the trust will be funded, whether through inheritance, life insurance, retirement plan designations, or direct contributions. Timing matters because incoming funds can affect benefit eligibility if not routed properly. Naming a pour-over will or designating the revocable living trust as beneficiary of retirement accounts can streamline transfers. Keep records of all funding sources and consult with trusted advisors when making beneficiary designations so that assets intended for the special needs trust reach it without unintended taxation or benefits disruption.
Life changes such as new benefits rules, changes in the beneficiary’s health, or shifts in family circumstances make periodic reviews important. Update trust language, successor designations, and funding strategies to reflect current needs and legal developments. Maintain copies of trust documents, letters of intent, and contact information for trustees and advisors. Regular reviews ensure that the plan remains aligned with the family’s goals and the beneficiary’s well-being, reducing the chance that outdated provisions will create unintended consequences.
Families consider a special needs trust to safeguard a loved one’s eligibility for public benefits while ensuring access to supplemental resources that improve quality of life. Trusts are often chosen when a beneficiary receives an inheritance, settlement funds, or gifts that would otherwise jeopardize means-tested benefits. A trust creates a formal mechanism for managing funds, providing for medical or educational needs, and appointing responsible trustees to make distributions consistent with the beneficiary’s best interests. This creates peace of mind and a structured plan for long-term support.
Other common reasons include planning for caregiver succession, addressing future housing and support needs, and coordinating assets across multiple documents such as wills, revocable living trusts, and retirement plans. Families also use trusts to limit disputes and provide clear direction for how funds should be applied. For those concerned about protecting benefits while offering supplemental support, a special needs trust offers a legally recognized path to accomplish both goals without sacrificing access to essential public assistance.
Common situations that prompt creation of a special needs trust include inheritance or settlement proceeds payable to an individual with disabilities, sudden receipt of assets that could affect benefits, and family planning to provide ongoing support after parents or primary caregivers pass away. Trusts are also appropriate when families wish to leave resources for a beneficiary while ensuring those resources supplement public benefits rather than replace them. Planning in advance reduces the risk of immediate benefit loss and enables a smoother transition of financial responsibility.
When an individual with disabilities receives an inheritance or settlement, those funds can disqualify the beneficiary from means-tested programs if not properly protected. Creating a special needs trust allows those assets to be managed for the beneficiary’s supplemental needs without counting as available resources for benefit eligibility. Timely action and appropriate trust language, including any required payback provisions, are important to preserve access to public support while using newly available resources to enhance the beneficiary’s life.
A change in caregiver status—such as the incapacity or death of a parent—can leave a beneficiary without an established plan for financial management and support. A special needs trust names successors and provides instructions for continued care, helping to avoid contested guardianship or conservatorship proceedings. Preparing a trust in advance ensures a smoother transition, clarifies the roles of trustees and agents, and preserves the beneficiary’s benefits while directing funds toward necessary supplemental services and living arrangements.
Planning for future housing, long-term care, and supported living arrangements often requires funds beyond what public benefits provide. A special needs trust can be used to pay for one-time and recurring supplemental costs such as accessibility modifications, caregiver stipends, transportation, and enrichment activities. By designing distributions to address these long-term needs and coordinating with public program rules, families can create stable living situations that accommodate the beneficiary’s preferences and medical requirements while preserving eligibility for essential public supports.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides guidance to families in Lake of the Pines and Nevada County on creating and administering special needs trusts. The firm assists with drafting trust documents, coordinating funding strategies, selecting trustees, and integrating trust plans with revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives. By helping families put clear legal structures in place, the office aims to reduce uncertainty, protect benefits, and support long-term care planning tailored to each beneficiary’s unique needs and circumstances.
Families choose the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman for clear, practical estate planning guidance that addresses both legal and real-world caregiving concerns. The office focuses on drafting documents that protect benefit eligibility while providing trustees with the authority and guidance needed to manage supplemental distributions. Our approach emphasizes communication with families, careful attention to funding mechanisms, and documents that anticipate future changes in circumstances. We work to provide plans that are durable, understandable, and tailored to each family’s priorities.
The firm assists clients across Nevada County with a range of estate planning documents including revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and multifaceted trust arrangements such as irrevocable life insurance trusts and retirement plan trusts. This integrated approach ensures coordination across documents so assets intended for a beneficiary are routed appropriately and trust provisions align with the family’s overall estate plan. The office also helps families consider funding strategies such as beneficiary designations and life insurance planning.
Clients benefit from practical guidance on trustee selection, record-keeping, and distribution standards so trustees can administer funds in ways that enhance the beneficiary’s quality of life while preserving public benefit eligibility. The firm provides assistance in preparing letters of intent to clarify day-to-day preferences and care needs and offers support in coordinating with service providers and governmental agencies. For families in Lake of the Pines, this tailored planning helps create a sustainable framework for long-term care and support.
Our process begins with a careful intake to understand the beneficiary’s needs, existing benefits, and the family’s goals. We review financial resources, discuss funding options, and evaluate whether a first-party, third-party, or pooled trust is most appropriate. Next we draft trust documents and related estate planning instruments, coordinate beneficiary designations and assets, and provide guidance on trustee responsibilities and record-keeping. Finally, we review the plan with the family, make any requested revisions, and provide copies and guidance to trustees to help ensure smooth administration over time.
The first step is an in-depth planning meeting to gather information about the beneficiary’s current benefits, financial situation, medical needs, and family circumstances. During this meeting we assess potential sources of funding, discuss the pros and cons of different trust types, and identify priorities for distributions and trustee authority. We also review related estate planning documents to ensure a coordinated approach. This discovery stage sets the foundation for drafting a trust that fits the family’s goals and preserves the beneficiary’s eligibility for public assistance.
We analyze the beneficiary’s current benefit status, any potential sources of new funds, and how those funds might affect eligibility. This includes reviewing Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income, and other programs to identify risks and design appropriate trust provisions. Understanding timing and the nature of incoming funds helps determine whether a first-party trust, third-party trust, or pooled trust is best. The assessment helps shape the trust’s payback provisions and distribution standards to protect benefits while meeting the beneficiary’s supplemental needs.
Based on the assessment, we craft a planning strategy that addresses trustee selection, funding mechanisms, and integration with other estate documents. This strategy outlines who will serve as trustee, how successor trustees will be appointed, and what administrative steps are necessary to fund the trust properly. We also identify any ancillary documents such as pour-over wills, powers of attorney, or advance directives that should be updated to align with the trust plan and ensure seamless coordination among legal instruments.
In this stage we prepare the trust agreement and any supporting documents tailored to the family’s objectives. Drafting includes setting distribution standards, trustee powers, and any necessary payback language for government benefit compliance. We prepare related estate planning instruments like revocable living trusts, certification of trust, and pour-over wills where appropriate. The documents are drafted in clear language to make administration straightforward and to reduce the likelihood of disputes or misunderstandings among family members and trustees.
After drafting, we review the trust documents with the family and trustees to ensure they reflect the beneficiary’s needs and the family’s intentions. We discuss the scope of trustee authority, permissible distributions, record-keeping expectations, and any contingencies. Revisions are made as needed to align with the family’s feedback and to clarify provisions that affect benefits or administrative responsibilities. This collaborative review helps ensure everyone understands their roles and the trust functions as intended.
We provide detailed guidance for transferring assets into the trust, updating beneficiary designations, and coordinating life insurance and retirement plan designations so funds pass correctly. Proper funding prevents assets from unintentionally being considered available to the beneficiary for eligibility purposes. The firm prepares instructions for trustees and family members to implement transfers and maintain documentation, reducing the risk of administrative errors that could affect public benefits or estate distribution goals.
Once the trust is in place and funded, ongoing administration includes prudent management of trust investments, timely distributions in accordance with trust standards, and regular record-keeping. Trustees should review the beneficiary’s circumstances and benefits status periodically and update administration practices as needed. The firm offers periodic reviews to adjust the plan for changes in law, the beneficiary’s needs, or family circumstances. Regular oversight helps maintain benefits eligibility and ensures trust resources are used as intended to support the beneficiary.
Trustees must maintain accurate and detailed records of all receipts, investments, and distributions to demonstrate that funds were used for permissible supplemental needs. Good record-keeping protects the beneficiary’s benefits and provides transparency for family members and government agencies if questions arise. Trustees should keep receipts, invoices, and written explanations for distributions, and provide periodic reports to interested parties as required by the trust or applicable law. This practice reduces ambiguity and helps trustees fulfill their fiduciary obligations responsibly.
Periodic updates ensure the trust and associated estate planning documents remain aligned with the beneficiary’s evolving needs and current benefit rules. Regular communication among trustees, caregivers, and family members helps identify changing priorities and required adjustments to distributions or funding plans. When life events occur—such as changes in housing, health, or family structure—the trust should be reviewed to confirm it continues to meet objectives. The firm recommends scheduled reviews and remains available to address legal questions or amend documents when necessary.
A special needs trust is a legal arrangement that holds assets for a person with disabilities while preserving their eligibility for means-tested public benefits. It allows a trustee to make distributions for supplemental needs such as therapies, adaptive equipment, education, transportation, and enrichment activities. The trust must be drafted to avoid direct cash distributions that could be counted as available resources, and its provisions should align with program rules for Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income. Families or individuals who anticipate receiving funds that could affect benefit eligibility, who wish to leave resources for a loved one with disabilities, or who want a formal structure for long-term care planning should consider this tool. Early planning helps ensure assets are directed properly and that trustees have clear guidance on permissible distributions to support the beneficiary’s quality of life.
A properly drafted special needs trust is designed so that assets held in the trust are not considered available resources for Medi-Cal and SSI, preserving benefit eligibility. The trust language and how distributions are made are key factors in maintaining eligibility. Trustees must avoid making cash payments to the beneficiary and instead pay vendors or providers directly for allowable supplemental items and services. Because benefit rules can change and vary by program, trustees should remain informed about current eligibility criteria and work with advisors when making significant distributions. Maintaining meticulous records and ensuring that trust expenditures supplement rather than replace government-provided services helps prevent disputes with benefit agencies.
A first-party special needs trust is funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, such as an inheritance or settlement, and often includes a Medicaid payback provision that requires remaining funds to reimburse the state after the beneficiary’s death. This format allows the beneficiary to retain eligibility while the trust holds and manages those funds for supplemental needs. Timing and drafting must meet legal standards to qualify for this treatment. A third-party special needs trust is funded by someone other than the beneficiary, typically a parent or other family member. Because the assets belong to a third party, the trust usually does not require a payback provision and remaining funds can pass to other heirs or charities as directed. The choice between trust types depends on funding sources and the family’s long-term goals.
Housing is a commonly asked subject and whether trust funds can pay for housing depends on the beneficiary’s specific benefits and how payments are made. Direct cash payments to the beneficiary for rent may be treated as an available resource and could affect eligibility for means-tested benefits. However, trustees can often pay for housing-related expenses directly to vendors, landlords, or service providers to avoid counting funds as available assets. The appropriate approach requires careful coordination with current benefit rules and an understanding of permissible distribution strategies. Trustees should document housing-related expenditures and consult with advisors if housing costs are a significant part of the trust’s intended purpose to ensure distributions remain consistent with maintaining public benefits.
What happens to remaining funds depends on the type of trust and its provisions. A first-party trust frequently contains a payback requirement to reimburse the state for Medi-Cal benefits provided during the beneficiary’s lifetime, which may reduce or eliminate remaining funds for heirs. A third-party trust can specify alternate beneficiaries such as family members or charities, allowing funds to be distributed according to the grantor’s directions. The trust should clearly articulate successor beneficiaries and any conditions for distribution. Families should plan intentionally about remainder beneficiaries and consider whether to include contingent distributions to relatives or charitable organizations to reflect their long-term wishes and values.
Pooled trusts are administered by nonprofit organizations that manage accounts for multiple beneficiaries, providing professional administration and investment management. They can be a practical option when a family prefers nonprofit oversight or when the beneficiary receives first-party funds and a trusted nonprofit pooled trust is available with acceptable terms. Pooled trusts may offer efficiencies in administration and tailored distributions for each beneficiary. A standalone trust may be preferable when families want more direct control over trustee selection, distribution rules, or remainder beneficiaries. The decision depends on the family’s preference for trustee oversight, administrative complexity, and the specific benefits rules that apply to the beneficiary. Evaluating both options helps determine the best fit.
Choose trustees who are responsible, trustworthy, and able to handle financial management, record-keeping, and coordination with caregivers and benefit agencies. Family members are often chosen when they are willing and capable, but some families appoint a professional co-trustee or corporate trustee to provide continuity and administrative support. Consider naming successor trustees and providing clear instructions for their responsibilities to ensure continuity if a primary trustee is unable to serve. When selecting trustees, also consider their ability to communicate with family members, adhere to distribution standards, and maintain impartiality in difficult situations. Clear trust language about trustee powers, compensation, and reporting requirements reduces ambiguity and helps trustees carry out their duties.
Funding a special needs trust can involve direct transfers, beneficiary designations on life insurance or retirement accounts, pour-over provisions from a revocable living trust, or establishing the trust as the recipient of an inheritance or settlement. Proper beneficiary designations and coordination with estate documents are important to ensure funds flow into the trust as intended. For retirement accounts, consider tax implications and how distributions will be managed to support the beneficiary while avoiding negative effects on benefits. Documentation of funding steps and timing is critical to prevent assets from being treated as available to the beneficiary. Families should review all potential funding sources and update beneficiary designations and estate documents to reflect the plan so that transfers occur smoothly and in accordance with the trust’s purpose.
A special needs trust does not replace a will or revocable living trust; instead, it is typically one component of a broader estate plan. A revocable living trust and pour-over will can direct assets into a special needs trust upon death or incapacity, ensuring the beneficiary receives intended support while preserving benefit eligibility. Powers of attorney and advance health care directives complement the trust by naming agents for financial and medical decision-making when a beneficiary or caregiver cannot act. Coordinating these documents creates a cohesive approach so assets, beneficiary designations, and decision-making authorities work together. This prevents gaps or conflicts between instruments and helps ensure that the trust functions as part of an overall plan to protect the beneficiary’s long-term interests.
Trusts and estate plans should be reviewed periodically and after major life events such as changes in the beneficiary’s health, caregiver changes, receipt of an inheritance or settlement, changes in benefits rules, or family transitions. Regular reviews help identify necessary amendments to trustee designations, distribution standards, or funding strategies to keep the plan effective and aligned with current goals. Scheduling a review every few years is prudent to stay ahead of legal and personal changes. Ongoing monitoring of benefits rules and communication among trustees and family members also helps maintain appropriate distributions and prevent inadvertent eligibility issues. When circumstances change, prompt updates reduce the risk of unintended consequences and ensure continued protection for the beneficiary.
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