Planning for the future of a loved one with disabilities requires careful consideration and thoughtful legal planning. A special needs trust is designed to preserve eligibility for public benefits while providing for supplemental needs not covered by those programs. In Garnet and the surrounding areas, families often seek clear guidance on how to fund, manage, and use a trust to support long-term health, housing, education, and quality-of-life needs. This introduction outlines why a tailored approach to special needs planning matters for maintaining government benefits and improving financial security for the beneficiary.
Special needs trust planning intersects with many areas of estate planning, including wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, and beneficiary designations. Properly drafted documents can prevent unintended loss of benefits, allow for flexible distributions, and provide for a trusted person to manage funds responsibly. Families in Riverside County benefit from understanding how a trust coordinates with Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income, and other assistance programs. This paragraph offers a high-level overview of the decisions families face and the practical steps to protect a loved one’s long-term interests while preserving access to essential public support.
A special needs trust provides a structured way to hold assets for a person with disabilities without disrupting eligibility for public benefits. It supports needs beyond basic assistance, such as therapies, transportation, educational programs, personal care items, and social or recreational activities that improve overall quality of life. For families, the trust offers peace of mind by creating a legal plan for long-term support and reducing the administrative uncertainty that can arise when a beneficiary’s income or assets change. Thoughtful planning also helps prevent family disputes and ensures that funds are used in the best interest of the beneficiary.
Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman focuses on practical estate planning solutions for families in California, including those with special needs loved ones. Our legal practice assists clients with drafting trusts, wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, and other documents that work together to protect assets and benefits. We emphasize clear communication, careful document drafting, and personalized planning to fit individual family circumstances. The goal is to ensure that a beneficiary’s long-term needs are met while maintaining eligibility for public programs and minimizing administrative burdens for family trustees and caregivers.
A special needs trust is a legal instrument that holds assets for the benefit of a person with disabilities while preserving their eligibility for income-based public benefits. The trust can pay for goods and services that supplement, not replace, benefits such as health care, food, or housing assistance provided by government programs. Funding sources can include inheritance, settlement proceeds, or family contributions. Careful drafting addresses trustee powers, permitted distributions, and end-of-life provisions to protect the beneficiary’s interests and the trust’s integrity over time.
Trust funding and administration require ongoing attention to ensure distributions do not unintentionally reduce benefits. Trustees must document expenditures, choose providers carefully, and make decisions that align with program rules. Coordination with other estate planning tools like pour-over wills, certification of trust, and powers of attorney ensures assets flow into the trust as intended. Families often need guidance on choosing a trustee, establishing distribution standards, and planning for successor trustees to maintain continuity of care and financial support for the beneficiary as circumstances change.
A special needs trust is a legally binding arrangement that permits a third party to hold and manage assets for a person with disabilities while preserving their eligibility for means-tested public benefits. It is used when a beneficiary needs supplemental support that public benefits do not cover, and when direct ownership of assets by the beneficiary could jeopardize those benefits. Trust provisions outline permissible expenditures, trustee responsibilities, and successor arrangements, allowing families to plan for lifelong care and to address scenarios such as changes in health, availability of caregiver support, or future financial gifts.
Creating a special needs trust involves several essential elements: identifying the beneficiary’s specific needs, selecting a trustee, deciding on funding sources, and drafting distribution terms that comply with benefit rules. The process typically includes collecting financial information, coordinating with existing estate planning documents, and considering tax and public benefits implications. Post-creation, proper administration includes recordkeeping, prudent investing, and timely distributions for allowable expenses. Periodic reviews are important to adapt the trust as laws, benefits, or the beneficiary’s needs change over time.
Understanding common terms helps families navigate the planning process and communicate clearly with trustees and advisors. Terms include beneficiary, trustee, discretionary distributions, payback provisions, pooled trust, ABLE accounts, and pour-over wills. Knowing these terms clarifies how different planning tools interact and the practical effects of trust provisions. This section explains the definitions and relationships among these concepts to equip families with the vocabulary needed to make informed decisions and to ask focused questions during consultations and when reviewing draft documents.
The beneficiary is the person who receives the benefit of the trust assets and for whom the trust exists. In the context of a special needs trust, the beneficiary has a disability or condition that may make eligibility for public assistance an important consideration. The terms of the trust are written to address the beneficiary’s changing needs and to authorize the trustee to use funds for supplemental items and services that enhance quality of life. Naming the beneficiary clearly and including identifying information helps avoid confusion during administration.
A payback provision requires that any remaining trust assets be used to reimburse certain public benefits after the beneficiary’s death. This is commonly found in third-party or first-party special needs trusts, especially those funded with public benefits or settlement proceeds. The provision specifies which agencies are entitled to repayment and how the remaining funds should be handled. Planning around a payback provision involves balancing the desire to provide for residual beneficiaries with legal obligations to reimburse public programs when required by law.
The trustee is the individual or entity entrusted with managing the trust assets, making distributions, and maintaining records on behalf of the beneficiary. Responsibilities include investing prudently, documenting expenditures, coordinating with benefit programs, and acting in the beneficiary’s best interest within the parameters of the trust. Choosing a trustee involves assessing reliability, availability, financial acumen, and willingness to serve, as well as naming successor trustees to ensure continuity of administration through life changes or incapacity.
A pooled trust is run by a nonprofit organization that pools resources from many beneficiaries for investment purposes while maintaining separate accounting for each individual’s funds. It is often an option for people who need a special needs trust but lack a private trustee or sufficient assets to justify a private trust. Pooled trusts typically provide professional administration and may accept assets including settlements. They can help preserve public benefits while offering tailored distributions for each beneficiary’s supplemental needs.
When planning for a person with disabilities, families choose among options such as third-party special needs trusts, first-party trusts, pooled trusts, and alternatives like ABLE accounts. Each option has different funding rules, payback obligations, and administrative requirements. Comparing these choices involves assessing the size and source of assets, the beneficiary’s current and future needs, and applicable public benefits rules. This comparison helps families decide which arrangement best balances flexibility, administrative burden, and the ability to provide meaningful supplemental support without risking eligibility for government programs.
Families with modest inheritances or small sums intended for a beneficiary might choose a simpler arrangement that minimizes paperwork and administration while still protecting benefits. Options include using beneficiary designations, modest third-party trusts, or directing funds to a pooled trust when available. This route can reduce costs and complexity while still providing supplemental assistance. Even with limited resources, clear instructions in estate planning documents and coordination with public benefits rules make it possible to help a loved one without creating unnecessary administrative burdens for caregivers or trustees.
If a beneficiary already receives stable benefits and the family anticipates only minor financial additions, a narrowly tailored plan may suffice. This might involve modest trust provisions, simple powers of attorney, and a pour-over will to direct residual assets. The goal in these situations is to avoid jeopardizing existing benefit streams while providing some flexibility for extra costs. Periodic review remains important so the plan can be adjusted if benefits change or if larger assets become available over time.
A comprehensive plan is often warranted when the beneficiary or family expects significant assets, complex support needs, or multiple funding sources. Detailed trusts, coordinated estate planning documents, and clear trustee succession plans help manage larger sums and long-term care arrangements. A full-service approach also addresses tax considerations, settlement distributions, and interactions with retirement accounts. Comprehensive planning reduces the risk of unintended benefit loss and helps ensure funds are used effectively to support a beneficiary’s evolving needs across decades.
When planning for blended families or multiple beneficiaries, a comprehensive approach clarifies how assets will be allocated and how a special needs trust interacts with other estate plan elements. Detailed documents prevent conflicts between heirs and ensure the special needs trust receives intended assets without ambiguity. Addressing contingencies, naming alternate trustees, and setting clear distribution priorities helps maintain family harmony and protect a vulnerable beneficiary’s long-term support. This approach offers structure to navigate interpersonal and legal complexities over time.
A comprehensive approach aligns trust provisions with other estate planning documents to ensure consistent treatment of assets at every stage. It reduces the risk of accidentally disqualifying benefits, provides a clear framework for trustees, and helps families plan for long-term disability-related expenses. Coordinated planning can also address tax implications, settlement handling, and long-range distribution strategies. By considering the whole picture up front, families gain a durable plan that adapts to changes in law, benefits, and family circumstances without creating unnecessary legal friction when it matters most.
Another advantage of a coordinated plan is the ability to name trusted fiduciaries and set fallback arrangements in case primary caregivers can no longer serve. This includes successor trustee designations, clear instructions for healthcare decision-makers, and provisions for distributing remaining trust assets consistent with the family’s wishes. Comprehensive planning also simplifies transitions, such as when a beneficiary’s needs evolve or when new resources become available. The result is a resilient plan that protects public benefits and enhances a beneficiary’s quality of life across changing circumstances.
A carefully structured trust allows funds to be used for supplemental needs that improve a beneficiary’s daily living, educational opportunities, social engagement, and therapeutic supports, without reducing eligibility for critical public programs. By setting clear distribution standards and coordinating with benefit rules, trustees can maintain program eligibility while using trust funds for items and experiences that public programs do not cover. This balance helps families provide meaningful support that complements, rather than replaces, existing benefits and services.
Comprehensive planning reduces uncertainty for caregivers and trustees by documenting responsibilities, recordkeeping expectations, and successor arrangements. With clear documents, trustees are better positioned to act promptly and responsibly if the primary caregiver becomes unavailable. This planning minimizes disputes and confusion over distributions and the long-term handling of assets. The trust can include guidance for routine administration, investment direction, and contingencies for changes in laws or family circumstances, providing a steady framework for managing a beneficiary’s needs over time.
Start by compiling current information about the beneficiary’s benefits, medical providers, service coordinators, and support network. Knowing enrollment dates, benefit levels, and contact information helps design trust distributions that complement existing assistance. Clear documentation also helps trustees avoid accidental reductions in public benefits and makes it easier to coordinate payments to providers. Gathering paperwork early reduces delays and supports efficient administration if funds become available suddenly, such as through inheritance or settlement proceeds.
Ensure the special needs trust is integrated with the rest of the estate plan, including wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, and beneficiary designations on retirement accounts. A pour-over will can direct assets into the trust at the right time, and clear beneficiary designations prevent unintended confiscation of funds. Periodically review these documents to reflect life changes and legal updates. Coordinated planning reduces the risk of conflicts, helps maintain benefits eligibility, and provides a seamless framework for managing assets for the beneficiary’s benefit.
Families should consider a special needs trust if a loved one receives means-tested public benefits or if the family anticipates receiving assets that could affect benefit eligibility. A trust preserves access to programs such as Medi-Cal or Supplemental Security Income by keeping countable assets out of the beneficiary’s name. It also provides a mechanism to supplement services and goods that public programs do not cover. Early planning allows families to choose structures and trustees that fit long-term goals and to avoid interruptions to vital benefits.
A trust is also helpful when a beneficiary may receive a settlement, inheritance, or gifts that would otherwise disqualify them from public assistance. In these circumstances, a properly drafted trust protects both the beneficiary’s eligibility and the intended use of funds. Careful consideration of payback requirements, trustee powers, and coordination with other estate planning tools helps families preserve assets for meaningful supplemental support while meeting any legal obligations to public agencies after the beneficiary’s passing.
Typical circumstances include an anticipated inheritance, settlement proceeds from litigation, gifts from family, or retirement account distributions that would otherwise increase a beneficiary’s countable resources. Additionally, families facing changes in caregiving arrangements, concerns about long-term housing, or the need for enhanced therapies and activities often find a trust valuable. In each case, the trust is tailored to preserve benefits while offering supplemental support, enabling families to plan proactively for the beneficiary’s evolving needs and life stages.
When a beneficiary receives an inheritance or sizable gift, those assets can inadvertently disqualify them from income-based programs. A properly structured trust can receive the funds instead, preserving eligibility for public benefits while allowing the trustee to use the assets for supplemental needs. Prompt planning is important to prevent temporary or permanent loss of benefits, and to ensure distributions are made in a way that supports the beneficiary’s health, housing, and social needs without jeopardizing public assistance.
Settlement proceeds from litigation intended for a beneficiary may increase countable assets and affect eligibility for means-tested programs. Creating a trust to receive and manage settlement funds protects the beneficiary’s access to public benefits and offers a structured method for spending funds on allowable supplemental items. Proper handling of settlement funds often requires court approval or specific trust language to meet legal requirements and payback obligations, so early coordination between counsel and family advisors is important.
Shifts in caregiving or living arrangements, such as a move to supported housing or changes in family capacity to provide daily care, often prompt the creation or amendment of a trust. A trust provides a financial framework to support new services, housing costs, or assistive technology that public benefits do not cover. Establishing clear trustee authority and funding mechanisms ensures continuity of support through transitions and helps families prepare for scenarios where caregiver roles may change due to health, employment, or geographic relocation.
Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman offers estate planning services for residents of Garnet and Riverside County, focused on practical solutions for families with a loved one who has disabilities. Services include drafting special needs trusts, coordinating powers of attorney and health care directives, and advising on funding strategies like pour-over wills and retirement account designations. Our approach emphasizes clear communication, reliable document drafting, and comprehensive planning to protect benefits while providing meaningful support for a beneficiary’s quality of life and long-term needs.
Choosing a law firm to handle special needs trust planning means working with attorneys who understand how trust provisions affect public benefits and family dynamics. Our practice helps families by creating tailored documents that clarify trustee powers, distribution standards, and funding mechanisms. We prioritize clear instructions and practical administration details so trustees can act confidently while preserving benefits. Through careful drafting and coordination with other estate planning instruments, the plan aims to support a beneficiary both now and in the future without compromising essential public assistance.
We assist clients with a range of related documents, including revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, financial powers of attorney, advance health care directives, certifications of trust, and guardianship nominations when needed. Coordinating these tools reduces the risk of conflicts and ensures assets flow into the special needs trust as intended. The firm also advises on funding strategies and documentation practices that help trustees demonstrate that distributions comply with benefit program rules, promoting continuity of care for the beneficiary.
Our goal is to provide families with clear, durable plans that address both immediate needs and long-term contingencies. We work to explain legal options in straightforward language, help identify appropriate trustees or pooled trust options, and prepare documents that reflect the family’s values. By anticipating common problems and documenting decisions carefully, families can reduce future stress and protect a loved one’s eligibility for essential public programs while offering supplemental supports that enhance daily living and long-term security.
Our process begins with a comprehensive information-gathering session to identify the beneficiary’s needs, current benefits, assets, and family goals. We then outline appropriate trust options, draft documents tailored to those needs, and explain funding strategies and administrative responsibilities. After execution, we provide guidance on recordkeeping, trustee duties, and coordination with public benefits. Periodic reviews are recommended to adjust the plan for life changes or legal updates, ensuring the trust continues to meet the beneficiary’s needs effectively over time.
The first step involves collecting detailed information about the beneficiary’s current benefits, medical needs, income, assets, and any anticipated gifts or settlements. We ask about caregivers, support networks, and long-term goals to craft a plan that fits family circumstances. This phase also includes reviewing existing estate planning documents to identify inconsistencies or opportunities to coordinate assets into a special needs trust. A thorough initial review sets the foundation for drafting clear legal documents that protect both benefits and supplemental support.
We assess the beneficiary’s public benefits, including eligibility rules and reporting obligations, to understand how proposed assets or distributions might affect those programs. This review informs decisions about trust type, funding timing, and permissible expenditures. Understanding income, resources, and benefit limits enables us to draft specific distribution provisions and trustee directions that align with the beneficiary’s financial reality while protecting access to essential supports like Medi-Cal or Supplemental Security Income.
During the initial consultation we discuss the family’s goals for long-term care, quality-of-life improvements, and legacy planning. Selecting an appropriate trustee and naming successors are central topics, along with whether a private trustee, corporate trustee, or pooled trust is the best fit. We explore practical considerations such as geographic proximity, financial management skills, and availability to serve, and we provide guidance on how to document the family’s intentions clearly within the trust.
After agreeing on the trust structure and funding plan, we draft the trust documents and related estate planning instruments. Drafting focuses on clear language that defines trustee powers, permissible distributions, payback provisions, and successor arrangements. We coordinate pour-over wills, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives to ensure cohesive treatment of assets and decision-making authority. Once documents are reviewed and finalized, we arrange for proper execution and provide certified copies to relevant parties as needed.
We ensure the special needs trust integrates seamlessly with revocable living trusts, wills, certification of trust, and retirement account beneficiary designations. Proper coordination prevents assets from bypassing the trust and becoming countable resources for the beneficiary. We also produce documents such as financial powers of attorney and HIPAA authorizations so caregivers and trustees can access necessary information and act when required. This integrated approach reduces the risk of unintended consequences and helps preserve the beneficiary’s benefits.
Funding the trust may involve retitling assets, designating the trust as a beneficiary of accounts, or preparing pour-over wills for probate assets. For settlement proceeds, we coordinate with counsel and the court as needed to ensure funds flow into an appropriate trust vehicle. Administrative setup includes establishing bank or investment accounts in the trust’s name, developing initial recordkeeping systems, and preparing a memorandum of directions for the trustee to facilitate smooth ongoing administration and compliant distributions for the beneficiary’s supplemental needs.
After documents are signed and the trust is funded, we provide guidance on trustee responsibilities, recordkeeping, reporting requirements, and allowable expenditures. Ongoing administration may involve periodic reviews of trust provisions, updates to reflect changes in law, and assistance with complex distribution decisions. We can advise trustees on documentation practices that demonstrate distributions were for permissible supplemental needs and help coordinate with benefit agencies when questions arise, ensuring the trust continues to serve the beneficiary effectively over the long term.
We advise trustees on practical recordkeeping and reporting practices to show distributions were used for permissible goods and services, including retaining receipts, invoices, and written explanations for expenditures. Good practices include regular account reconciliations, maintaining separate trust records, and preparing summaries for family meetings or benefit reviews. Clear documentation helps prevent misunderstandings with benefit administrators and supports transparent, accountable management of trust assets for the beneficiary’s ongoing supplemental needs.
Regular plan reviews are recommended to ensure the trust remains aligned with the beneficiary’s needs, changing family circumstances, and evolving laws. Amendments may be needed if there are changes in benefit program rules, family structure, or available assets. Periodic checks help identify opportunities to adjust distribution standards, successor trustee arrangements, or funding strategies. Proactive reviews reduce the risk of unintended benefit disruptions and maintain the trust’s effectiveness as a long-term vehicle for supplemental support.
A special needs trust is a legal arrangement that holds assets for a person with disabilities while preserving eligibility for means-tested public benefits. It permits a trustee to make discretionary distributions for supplemental items such as therapies, education, personal care, transportation, and recreational activities that government benefits may not cover. Families and caregivers commonly consider this option when a beneficiary is receiving public assistance, when an inheritance or settlement is likely, or when additional resources are needed to improve the beneficiary’s quality of life without jeopardizing essential benefits. Deciding whether to establish a special needs trust involves assessing the beneficiary’s current benefits, future needs, funding sources, and family goals. A carefully drafted trust clarifies allowable distributions, trustee powers, and successor arrangements. Early planning helps avoid unintended disqualification from public programs and provides a structured path for long-term management of resources intended for supplemental support. Consulting with legal counsel ensures the trust aligns with applicable rules and family priorities.
Funding options include third-party contributions from family members, beneficiary-directed settlements, retirement account beneficiary designations, and pour-over wills that transfer probate assets into the trust. For third-party funds, a trust created by a parent or family member typically does not require a payback provision and can receive gifts or inheritances to support the beneficiary. When settlement proceeds are involved, the timing and method of funding must be handled carefully to avoid affecting benefits and to comply with any court or program requirements. Another common approach is to name the trust as the beneficiary of retirement accounts or life insurance proceeds so that assets pass directly into the trust upon the account owner’s death. Coordination with other estate planning documents and clear instructions for trustees help ensure funds are managed in ways that preserve public assistance and meet the beneficiary’s supplemental needs over time.
The trustee manages trust assets, makes distributions according to trust terms, maintains records, and acts in the beneficiary’s best interest within the authority granted by the document. Trustees are responsible for prudent investment, timely payments to providers, and maintaining documentation demonstrating that distributions were used for permissible supplemental needs. Choosing the right trustee involves considering reliability, financial judgment, availability, and willingness to serve. It is also important to name successor trustees in case the primary trustee cannot continue in the role. Families sometimes choose a trusted family member, a professional fiduciary, or a nonprofit pooled trust administrator depending on the size of the trust and the level of ongoing administration required. Providing a clear memorandum of desires, written distribution guidelines, and initial support in setting up recordkeeping can help trustees fulfill their duties and reduce potential conflicts or misunderstandings during administration.
A payback provision requires that any remaining trust assets be used to reimburse certain public benefits after the beneficiary’s death. This provision is often required for first-party special needs trusts that were funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, such as settlement proceeds or personal funds. The payback typically reimburses government agencies that provided benefits like Medi-Cal, to the extent required by law, before any remaining funds are distributed to residual beneficiaries specified in the trust. When planning, families should understand whether a payback provision applies and how to balance reimbursement obligations with the desire to leave assets to relatives or charitable causes. Proper drafting clarifies agency priorities and provides instructions for distributing any remaining funds consistent with legal obligations and family wishes, helping avoid disputes and ensuring compliance with program rules.
Yes, special needs trusts can receive personal injury settlement proceeds, but the method of funding must be carefully structured to protect benefits. Often a court will approve the placement of settlement funds into a properly drafted trust that includes necessary provisions to comply with public benefits rules. If the funds are the beneficiary’s own, the trust may need a payback provision to reimburse public programs after the beneficiary’s death. Coordination with counsel handling the settlement and the trustee is essential to ensure compliance. Timing, documentation, and specific language in settlement agreements and trust documents are critical to avoid interruptions in benefits. The trust should detail permissible uses of funds, trustee discretion, and accounting practices to demonstrate the settlement proceeds are managed appropriately for supplemental needs, preserving access to government-provided health and income support.
A pooled trust is administered by a nonprofit organization that pools assets for investment while maintaining separate accounts for each beneficiary. It is often an alternative for individuals who lack private family trustees or who have relatively modest resources. Pooled trusts can offer professional administration and may accept various funding sources, including first-party funds in some circumstances, while providing the benefit of collective investment and administrative support. A private special needs trust, by contrast, is managed by a named trustee appointed by the family or the settlor and may offer more tailored distributions and control over investments. The choice between a pooled trust and a private trust depends on the beneficiary’s needs, available assets, the family’s capacity to administer a private trust, and preferences about how funds should be used over time.
A properly drafted special needs trust is designed to preserve eligibility for public programs such as Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income. The trust must be structured so that the beneficiary does not directly own countable assets that would affect eligibility. Distributions should be limited to supplemental goods and services that do not substitute for benefits provided by public programs. Strict recordkeeping and prudent administration help ensure that distributions do not trigger benefit reductions or reporting complications. It is important to monitor changed circumstances and file accurate reports with benefit agencies when required. Trustees should be mindful of program rules and maintain documentation demonstrating that trust assets were used appropriately. Periodic legal review helps ensure that the trust remains compliant with evolving rules to protect ongoing access to necessary public supports.
Reviewing a special needs trust periodically—typically every few years or whenever major life changes occur—is good practice to ensure the plan remains effective. Reviews should occur after significant events such as changes in the beneficiary’s health, receipt of substantial assets, changes in caregivers, legislative updates affecting benefits, or shifts in family circumstances. Such reviews allow updates to trustee designations, distribution standards, and funding strategies to reflect the beneficiary’s current needs and the family’s objectives. Amendments may be necessary to maintain compliance with program rules or to adjust for new funding sources. Regular communication between trustees, family members, and legal advisors promotes continuity of care and reduces the risk of accidental benefit disruption by ensuring trust provisions and administrative practices remain aligned with practical realities.
Documents that should be coordinated with a special needs trust include a pour-over will, revocable living trust if applicable, financial power of attorney, advance health care directive, certification of trust, and beneficiary designations on retirement and insurance accounts. Coordination ensures assets flow into the trust as intended and that designated decision-makers have the authority and access they need to manage financial and health-related matters on behalf of the beneficiary. Proper alignment reduces the potential for assets to become countable resources that could affect benefits. Testing these documents periodically is important so that beneficiary designations match the trust’s funding strategy. Clear language and consistent instructions across documents make administration simpler for trustees and reduce the likelihood of disputes, enabling the trust to function as intended to support the beneficiary’s supplemental needs while maintaining public benefits.
Families can prepare successor trustees by documenting the role thoroughly, providing a memorandum of desires, and creating clear written instructions for recordkeeping and distribution standards. Training the successor on practical matters such as paying vendors, maintaining invoices, and understanding benefit program rules can reduce stress during transitions. Identifying more than one potential successor and naming alternates in the trust helps ensure continuity if the primary and initial successors are unavailable. Additionally, families should make sure successor trustees have access to necessary account information and know where important documents are stored. Providing an onboarding meeting with an attorney or financial advisor can help successors understand fiduciary responsibilities and the trust’s purpose, making it more likely the beneficiary will continue to receive appropriate supplemental support without disruption.
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