Planning for a loved one with disabilities requires careful attention to benefits, long-term care, and financial security. A Special Needs Trust can preserve eligibility for public benefits while providing funds for quality of life items that those benefits do not cover. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we focus on helping families in Orange and throughout California create trust arrangements tailored to their circumstances. This guide explains how a Special Needs Trust works, common approaches, and practical steps you can take to protect your family member’s future without jeopardizing critical benefits such as Medi-Cal or Social Security disability programs.
Many families feel overwhelmed by the interplay between public benefits and private resources. Establishing a properly drafted Special Needs Trust allows a trustee to manage assets for supplemental needs while preserving eligibility for means-tested benefits. Whether you are starting from scratch, revising an existing estate plan, or responding to a change in circumstances, thoughtful planning is essential. Our team in Orange County will work to identify the specific needs of your family member, propose funding options, and coordinate documents like pour-over wills, power of attorney forms, and health care directives so your plan is cohesive and practical over time.
A Special Needs Trust provides a legal mechanism for maintaining a beneficiary’s access to public benefits while supplementing care with private resources. This approach can pay for things such as therapies, educational supports, recreational activities, transportation, and noncovered medical equipment without disqualifying someone from Medi-Cal or SSI. Beyond preserving benefits, a trust offers structured financial management, protection from creditor claims, and continuity of care planning. For families in Orange County, a well-drafted trust reduces uncertainty and supports greater stability, allowing caregivers to focus on daily needs and long-term goals rather than navigating shifting benefit rules on their own.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides estate planning services to individuals and families throughout California, including specialized planning for beneficiaries with disabilities. Our approach emphasizes clear communication, careful drafting, and coordination with financial and medical advisors to produce documents that work together. We prepare revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, and a range of trust options, including special needs arrangements. Clients in Orange County can expect a thorough intake process that identifies goals, funding strategies, and successor arrangements so plans remain practical and sustainable through life changes.
A Special Needs Trust is designed to hold assets for the benefit of a person with disabilities while allowing them to remain eligible for means-tested government programs. There are different types of trusts used for this purpose, including first-party and third-party trusts, each with distinct funding methods and payback requirements. Creating the right type of trust requires assessing the beneficiary’s current and anticipated needs, income and asset levels, and potential public benefits. Properly structured documents outline trustee powers, permitted distributions, and coordination with public benefits to ensure the trust supports a higher quality of life without unintended disqualification.
Trust administration is a key component of the process; designated trustees manage funds, keep records, and make discretionary distributions in line with the beneficiary’s needs and the trust’s terms. Families often pair a Special Needs Trust with other estate planning tools like pour-over wills, certification of trust, and powers of attorney to create a comprehensive plan. Funding options may include life insurance proceeds, retirement plan trust arrangements, direct transfers from family members, or property transfers. Each funding method has consequences that must be evaluated so the trust functions as intended for years to come.
A Special Needs Trust is a legal arrangement that holds property for the benefit of a person with a disability and authorizes distributions that improve quality of life without affecting eligibility for needs-based programs. The trust typically prohibits direct distributions of cash that would be counted as countable resources, instead allowing payments for permitted expenses such as transportation, education, therapy, household items, and supplemental health-related services. The trust may be established by a third party for the beneficiary’s benefit or set up using the beneficiary’s own assets in certain circumstances. Clear drafting and administration instructions ensure that the intended protections are maintained.
Effective Special Needs Trusts include clear beneficiary designations, trustee powers, distribution standards, successor trustee provisions, and provisions for interaction with public benefits. The administrative process involves collecting necessary documentation, establishing bank or trust accounts, setting up recordkeeping procedures, and preparing an initial distribution plan. A trustee should maintain meticulous records of expenditures and retain receipts to demonstrate that distributions were used for permitted purposes. Periodic review is also important to accommodate changes in benefits rules, the beneficiary’s needs, or the family’s financial situation so the trust continues to serve its intended purpose.
Understanding common terms used in Special Needs Trust planning helps families make informed decisions. Terms like first-party trust, third-party trust, payback provision, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, trustee, pour-over will, and certification of trust frequently appear in documents and discussions. Knowing what each term means and how it affects the beneficiary’s benefits and financial protection is essential. This glossary provides concise definitions and context so you can ask focused questions, evaluate funding options, and coordinate planning choices with the rest of your estate plan.
A first-party Special Needs Trust is funded with assets that belong to the beneficiary, often because of an inheritance, settlement, or direct transfer. These trusts typically include a payback provision requiring repayment to the state for certain public benefits after the beneficiary’s death, which can affect funding options. Establishing a first-party trust usually requires compliance with statutory requirements so the beneficiary does not lose eligibility for Medi-Cal or SSI. Careful drafting and funding decisions are necessary to preserve benefits while enabling the trust to provide supplemental support during the beneficiary’s lifetime.
A third-party Special Needs Trust is created and funded by someone other than the beneficiary, such as a parent or other family member. Because the assets do not belong to the beneficiary, these trusts generally do not require a payback provision and can be arranged through wills or living trusts to take effect at the benefactor’s death. Third-party trusts offer flexibility for family members who want to provide long-term supplemental support without affecting public benefits, and they can be structured to ensure funds are used for the beneficiary’s ongoing needs as defined by the trust terms.
A payback provision requires that any remaining trust assets be used to reimburse the state for benefits provided to the beneficiary, such as Medi-Cal, when the beneficiary dies. This clause commonly appears in first-party trusts that hold assets belonging to the disabled individual. Payback provisions ensure compliance with state law and protect eligibility during life, but they can reduce the amount left for other family members. Understanding when a payback clause applies helps families make informed funding and inheritance decisions and determine whether to use third-party trust arrangements to avoid payback requirements.
A trustee manages the trust’s assets and makes discretionary distributions for the beneficiary’s supplemental needs according to the trust provisions. Discretionary distributions should be carefully tailored to avoid conversion into countable income or resources that might jeopardize public benefits. Trustees are responsible for recordkeeping, reporting, and ensuring that expenses paid from the trust enhance the beneficiary’s quality of life without supplanting benefits intended by public programs. Choosing a trustworthy and capable trustee, and providing clear guidance in the trust document, are essential elements of effective administration.
Families have several options for protecting a loved one with disabilities, including revocable living trusts, third-party Special Needs Trusts, first-party trusts, guardianship, and supported decision-making arrangements. Each choice involves trade-offs regarding control, flexibility, tax consequences, and the impact on public benefits. Revocable trusts can pass assets to a third-party Special Needs Trust at death, while guardianship may be necessary in some circumstances but limits personal autonomy. Evaluating these alternatives requires considering the beneficiary’s current benefits, likely future needs, and family intentions for long-term care and inheritance.
A more limited planning approach may suffice if a beneficiary has stable income and assets that do not jeopardize access to public benefits, or if family resources are minimal and straightforward. In such cases, simple documents like a pour-over will, power of attorney, and health care directive combined with a modest third-party trust can provide protections without complex administration. Families still benefit from clear instructions about distributions and trustee responsibilities to avoid misunderstandings. Periodic reviews are important to ensure the plan remains appropriate as circumstances change.
If the beneficiary’s needs are predictable and unlikely to change significantly over time, a limited arrangement with clearly defined trustee powers and a trusted family member acting as trustee may be sufficient. This can reduce administrative burdens and expense while still offering supplemental care. Even with stable needs, careful drafting is required to set distribution standards that align with benefits rules. Regularly reassessing the plan is advisable to confirm that distributions and trustee actions remain compatible with eligibility for Medi-Cal and other programs.
Comprehensive planning becomes important when a beneficiary’s situation involves multiple funding sources, such as retirement accounts, life insurance, property, or settlement proceeds. Coordinating those assets to fund a Special Needs Trust while maintaining benefits requires careful consideration of tax, creditor, and benefits consequences. A layered plan that includes pour-over wills, retirement plan trusts, and specific trust funding directives helps ensure resources are used efficiently and protect the beneficiary’s long-term access to Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income where applicable.
When a beneficiary’s medical, living, or support needs are evolving, or when program eligibility rules are uncertain, a comprehensive plan offers flexibility and resilience. Provisions for successor trustees, contingencies for changes in benefit programs, and clearly drafted distribution standards can reduce the risk that a well-meaning distribution will unintentionally impact benefits. A robust plan also anticipates end-of-life and payback issues, coordinating with estate documents and beneficiary designations to preserve value for the intended recipients.
A comprehensive approach helps families achieve multiple goals at once: protect eligibility for essential public benefits, provide for supplemental needs, prevent waste or misuse of funds, and establish clear decision-making authority. By integrating trust documents with wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives, you create a unified plan that addresses both daily needs and longer-term contingencies. This cohesion reduces ambiguity for caregivers and trustees and helps ensure that distributions are consistent with family goals and the beneficiary’s best interests over time.
Comprehensive planning also facilitates orderly transitions if a caregiver becomes unable to serve or passes away. Successor trustee provisions, funding contingencies, and clear beneficiary-focused guidance preserve continuity of care. Moreover, having a documented plan can reassure family members and reduce the administrative burden on surviving relatives who must implement the trust. Thoughtful planning helps maintain flexibility while safeguarding benefits, so funds are available to enhance quality of life without interrupting access to public programs that provide essential supports.
Identify potential funding sources for the trust at an early stage, including retirement accounts, life insurance, property, and direct gifts from family members. Each funding method has implications for taxes, creditor exposure, and public benefits eligibility, so planning ahead helps you choose the most efficient path. Consider how funds will transfer at death, whether via a pour-over will or beneficiary designation, and coordinate those choices with the trust terms. Early planning prevents confusion later and helps ensure the trust can provide consistent supplemental support for the beneficiary.
Good recordkeeping protects the beneficiary and demonstrates that distributions were used for permitted supplemental needs. Trustees should keep receipts, medical documentation when relevant, and notes explaining discretionary decisions. Periodic review of the trust documents is also important to address changes in benefits rules, family circumstances, or the beneficiary’s needs. Regular check-ins help ensure the plan remains effective and that trustees are following current best practices for managing distributions without interfering with eligibility for public programs.
Families often seek a Special Needs Trust to protect eligibility for benefits while ensuring funds are available for supplemental care that improves quality of life. Planning helps coordinate financial resources with caregiving arrangements, address long-term housing and therapy needs, and reduce the risk of assets being counted against means-tested programs. Establishing clear trustee authority and distribution guidelines also reduces family conflict and clarifies responsibilities, making it easier for caregivers and trustees to make decisions that align with the beneficiary’s best interests.
Other reasons families pursue this planning include protecting a family inheritance from unintended use, preserving benefits after a settlement or inheritance, and providing for continuity of support if a primary caregiver is no longer able to provide care. A tailored trust can be integrated with powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and pour-over wills to create an organized, long-term plan. This comprehensive approach helps families feel more confident that their loved one will be cared for in a consistent, benefits-compatible way.
Situations that commonly lead to establishing a Special Needs Trust include receiving an inheritance or settlement on behalf of a person with disabilities, changes in a family member’s care needs, or the desire to leave assets without affecting benefit eligibility. Families also use these trusts when planning for long-term supports, housing arrangements, or when coordinating benefits with trust-funded supplemental services. Early planning at key life events—such as the birth of a child, a parent’s death, or a legal settlement—can help preserve benefits and ensure funds are used as intended.
When a beneficiary receives a lump sum from an inheritance or settlement, placing those funds in a Special Needs Trust can protect eligibility for public benefits while using the money to improve the beneficiary’s life. Without a properly structured trust, a large inheritance could disqualify someone from means-tested programs. A trust receives and manages the assets, allowing a trustee to make distributions for permitted expenses while preserving access to essential benefits such as Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income, thereby balancing immediate financial needs with long-term protections.
Transitions like moving to a new care setting, changes in caregiver availability, or evolving medical needs may prompt families to formalize a financial plan through a Special Needs Trust. The trust provides a reliable mechanism to fund housing, therapeutic services, and transportation while coordinating with benefits that cover medical and daily living supports. Establishing a trust during such transitions ensures that financial resources are available to support necessary adjustments in care and that distributions are managed consistently with the beneficiary’s overall plan of care.
Long-term planning concerns like aging caregivers, future housing needs, and the desire to leave a legacy without disrupting benefits often motivate families to create a Special Needs Trust. A durable plan addresses contingencies by naming successor trustees, establishing guidelines for distributions, and coordinating with other estate planning documents. Preparing in advance helps ensure a seamless transition when circumstances change and provides peace of mind that funds will be directed toward the beneficiary’s ongoing well-being throughout their lifetime.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves families across Orange County and nearby communities with personalized special needs planning. We work with clients to evaluate current benefits, identify funding sources, and draft trusts and supporting documents such as pour-over wills and powers of attorney. Our local knowledge of California benefits programs and probate processes helps create practical plans suited to the beneficiary’s lifestyle and care team. Reach out by phone at 408-528-2827 to schedule a consultation and start creating a plan tailored to your family’s needs.
Choosing a law firm to draft a Special Needs Trust means selecting a team that will listen to your family’s priorities, explain planning choices, and prepare documents that work together. Our office prepares a full complement of estate documents, including revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, financial powers of attorney, and advance health care directives to create cohesive plans that support beneficiaries with disabilities. We emphasize clear communication and practical administration tools so trustees and caregivers can implement the plan confidently.
We guide families through funding strategies that consider life insurance, retirement accounts, and other assets, and we coordinate with financial and medical professionals when appropriate. Our goal is to ensure that the trust supports supplemental needs in ways that preserve access to benefits like Medi-Cal or SSI. We provide detailed draft documents and administration checklists to make trustee responsibilities manageable and to minimize interruptions to the beneficiary’s day-to-day services.
Accessibility and ongoing support are important parts of our service. We offer clear instructions for trustees, templates for recordkeeping, and periodic review recommendations to address changes in benefits rules or family circumstances. For families in Orange and throughout California, our office strives to deliver planning that is practical, durable, and focused on the beneficiary’s long-term wellbeing. To discuss your situation, call the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman at 408-528-2827 to arrange a consultation.
Our process begins with a thorough intake to understand the beneficiary’s situation, benefits, and family goals. We collect necessary documents, review potential funding sources, and discuss trustee selection and distribution standards. Next we prepare draft trust documents and related estate planning instruments for client review and revision. Once finalized, we assist with execution and provide guidance on funding the trust and initial administration setup. We also offer recommendations for recordkeeping and periodic review to ensure the plan remains effective as circumstances evolve.
During the initial meeting we gather information about the beneficiary’s diagnosis, current benefits, assets, and caregiver arrangements. We discuss your goals for supplemental support, funding sources you expect to use, and possible trustees. This phase often involves reviewing existing estate documents, benefit awards, and financial statements to identify potential conflicts or issues. The information gathered forms the basis for selecting the appropriate type of Special Needs Trust and for drafting provisions that align with the beneficiary’s needs and the family’s intentions.
We evaluate the beneficiary’s eligibility for programs such as Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income and consider how various funding sources would affect those benefits. This assessment helps determine whether a first-party trust, third-party trust, or another arrangement is most appropriate. We also explore potential funding strategies, including life insurance, retirement accounts, property transfers, and direct gifts from relatives, while considering taxes, payback rules, and timing to ensure benefits remain intact.
After evaluating benefits and funding, we discuss trustee options and draft initial trust provisions that define permissible distributions, trustee duties, and successor arrangements. Clear language about discretionary distributions, recordkeeping, and coordination with benefits reduces ambiguity and provides practical guidance for trustees. We aim to balance flexibility for changing needs with safeguards to preserve public benefits, and we prepare supporting documents like certificates of trust and administrative checklists to assist trustees in performing their duties responsibly.
In the drafting phase we prepare the Special Needs Trust and complementary estate planning documents tailored to the funding strategy and family goals. We provide draft documents for client review, explain key provisions in plain language, and make revisions as needed. The review process ensures that the trust aligns with beneficiary needs, trustee capabilities, and the family’s overall plan. We also prepare execution instructions and discuss steps for properly funding the trust so it serves its intended purpose without disrupting benefits.
Documents are customized to reflect the beneficiary’s unique circumstances, specifying distribution standards, trustee powers, and coordination with benefits programs. Clients review drafts and suggest changes, and we provide explanations about the consequences of key clauses such as payback provisions and trustee limitations. This collaborative review ensures the final trust documents match family intentions and provide practical guidance for future administration while remaining compatible with relevant benefit rules.
Along with the trust itself, we prepare related documents including a pour-over will, financial power of attorney, advance health care directive, and certification of trust. These instruments work together to ensure assets transfer as intended, decision-makers are empowered during incapacity, and healthcare preferences are respected. Coordinating these elements provides a comprehensive plan that addresses both financial and medical decision-making, reducing uncertainty for families and ensuring consistency in administration.
After documents are finalized, we assist with proper execution and the initial steps of funding the trust. Funding may involve beneficiary designations, transfers of property, or coordination with life insurance and retirement accounts. We provide guidance to trustees on opening accounts, recordkeeping, and making initial distributions consistent with the trust’s purpose. Educating trustees about benefits coordination and documentation practices helps avoid mistakes that could jeopardize eligibility and sets the stage for responsible long-term trust administration.
We guide clients through the signing and notarization requirements to ensure documents are legally effective and enforceable under California law. Proper execution often requires witnesses and notarization for certain instruments, and we provide checklists so these steps are completed correctly. Once signed, we advise on safe storage of original documents and distribution of copies to trustees, caregivers, and relevant advisors to facilitate implementation when needed.
Trustee onboarding includes training on the trust’s distribution standards, recordkeeping expectations, and coordination with benefits authorities. We provide templates for tracking expenditures and receipts and recommend procedures for regular reporting to family members or co-trustees where appropriate. Establishing these systems at the outset helps trustees make informed discretionary decisions and maintains evidence that trust assets were used for permitted supplemental needs, supporting continued access to public programs.
A Special Needs Trust is a legal vehicle designed to hold assets for the benefit of a person with a disability while maintaining their eligibility for means-tested public programs. The trust allows a trustee to make discretionary distributions for supplemental needs such as therapy, transportation, education, and personal items that are not covered by public benefits. By keeping funds within the trust rather than distributing them directly to the beneficiary, the trust helps avoid counting those assets as resources that could disqualify someone from programs like Medi-Cal or Supplemental Security Income. Families consider a Special Needs Trust when they want to protect a loved one’s access to essential public benefits while providing a higher quality of life through supplemental spending. Establishing the trust involves choosing an appropriate trustee, defining clear distribution standards, and determining funding sources. Proper drafting ensures the trust operates as intended and coordinates with other estate planning documents such as wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives.
When properly drafted and administered, a Special Needs Trust can preserve eligibility for Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income by ensuring that funds held in trust are not counted as the beneficiary’s personal assets. There are specific types of trusts and specific statutory requirements that must be met, especially for trusts funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, in order to prevent disqualification. Trustees should understand the limitations on distributions to avoid creating countable income or resources that could affect benefits. Coordination with benefits administrators and careful recordkeeping are important aspects of maintaining eligibility. Trustees should keep receipts and documentation showing that distributions were used for permitted supplemental needs. If a trust is funded incorrectly or distributions are handled improperly, it could lead to a benefits overpayment or temporary loss of eligibility, so ongoing attention to rules and procedures is essential.
A first-party Special Needs Trust is funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, often from an inheritance, settlement, or direct transfer, and typically includes a requirement to repay the state for certain benefits provided after the beneficiary’s death. These trusts must comply with statutory rules to preserve eligibility for programs such as Medi-Cal. Because the assets initially belong to the beneficiary, establishing the trust often requires meeting specific legal criteria and including a payback provision in the trust document. A third-party Special Needs Trust is funded by someone other than the beneficiary, such as a parent or other relative, and does not usually require payback to the state. These trusts are often set up through a will or living trust to receive funds at the donor’s death. They offer families a flexible way to leave assets for supplemental care without affecting the beneficiary’s eligibility for public benefits, making them a common planning choice for long-term arrangements.
Choosing a trustee involves assessing who will be capable of managing finances responsibly, understanding benefits coordination, and making discretionary decisions in the beneficiary’s best interests. Many families name a trusted relative or friend as trustee, but also consider naming professional trustees or co-trustees if family dynamics, distance, or complexity of assets might present challenges. Successor trustees should also be designated to ensure continuity of administration if the primary trustee is unable to serve. Trust documents should provide clear guidance on distribution standards, recordkeeping, and interaction with benefits authorities so trustees can carry out their duties effectively. Trustees need to keep meticulous records and follow procedures designed to avoid disqualifying the beneficiary from public benefits. The trustee selection process should weigh reliability, organizational skills, willingness to serve, and familiarity with the beneficiary’s needs.
Yes, individuals can leave money to a loved one with disabilities in ways that do not harm benefits, but careful planning is required. Leaving funds directly to the beneficiary may increase countable resources and affect eligibility for means-tested programs. Using a properly structured third-party Special Needs Trust, or directing funds into a trust via a pour-over will or living trust, allows assets to be used for supplemental needs without being treated as the beneficiary’s personal resources. Timing and the method of funding are important considerations. For instance, retirement accounts and life insurance require specific beneficiary designations and planning to ensure proceeds do not unintentionally become countable resources. Consulting on the best combination of instruments and wording ensures that inheritances support the beneficiary’s care without jeopardizing essential public benefits.
What happens to trust assets after a beneficiary dies depends on the trust’s terms. For first-party trusts funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, a payback provision often requires reimbursement to the state for certain benefits provided during the beneficiary’s life. After satisfying any payback obligations, any remaining funds are distributed according to the trust document’s directions, which may include distribution to remainder beneficiaries or charitable designations. For third-party trusts, the trust typically names remainder beneficiaries who receive any remaining assets after the beneficiary’s death, and these trusts generally do not require repayment to the state. Trust terms should clearly state the order of distribution, any conditions for remainder beneficiaries, and instructions for trustee duties during the wind-up process to ensure an orderly conclusion of the trust administration.
Funding a Special Needs Trust can be accomplished through several methods, such as direct gifts from family members, proceeds from life insurance, designated beneficiary designations on accounts, transfers from a revocable living trust, or settlement proceeds. Each method has different legal, tax, and benefits implications. Reviewing all potential funding sources and coordinating beneficiary designations and account ownership helps ensure that assets land in the trust rather than passing directly to the beneficiary, which could affect benefits eligibility. When a trust is funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, special statutory rules and payback requirements often apply, so timing and formality of transfers should be discussed in advance. Proper documentation during the funding process and ongoing trustee recordkeeping help demonstrate that assets were used for permitted supplemental needs and preserve the intended protections provided by the trust.
A pour-over will works with a revocable living trust to ensure that any assets not transferred to the trust during a person’s lifetime are transferred into the trust at death. This is often an efficient way to fund a third-party Special Needs Trust that has been established within a larger estate plan. The pour-over will helps prevent unintended direct inheritances to a beneficiary that might disrupt benefits, as assets pass into the trust rather than directly to the beneficiary. Using a pour-over will requires proper coordination with the trust document and beneficiary designations on accounts. While a pour-over will funnels assets into a trust at death, it may still go through probate before funding the trust, so families should consider strategies to minimize probate delays when timing or liquidity is a concern for the beneficiary’s immediate needs.
A Special Needs Trust should be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains aligned with the beneficiary’s needs, changes in public benefits rules, and any alterations in family circumstances. Reviews are especially important after significant life events such as a beneficiary’s change in health, a caregiver’s death, an inheritance or settlement, or legislative changes affecting benefits. Regular reviews help trustees and family members adapt distribution standards and administrative protocols to current realities. Practical review intervals vary, but checking the plan every few years or after any major change helps maintain effectiveness. Reviews also ensure that trustee appointments, successor designations, and funding strategies remain suitable. During the review, consider whether additional documents like updated powers of attorney or revised beneficiary designations are necessary to maintain the integrity of the overall plan.
A comprehensive estate plan for a person with disabilities often includes a Special Needs Trust, pour-over will, revocable living trust for the settlor if applicable, financial power of attorney, advance health care directive, certification of trust, and relevant beneficiary designations on life insurance and retirement accounts. These documents work together to ensure assets are directed into the appropriate trust structure and that decision-makers are authorized to manage finances and health care when necessary. Including guardianship nominations and detailed trustee instructions can further reduce uncertainty in times of transition. Coordinating these instruments and ensuring they reflect current intentions and legal requirements helps protect the beneficiary’s access to public benefits while providing supplemental supports. Clear documentation and communication with trustees and caregivers improve the plan’s likelihood of successful long-term administration.
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