A Special Needs Trust can preserve government benefits for a loved one while providing for additional care, activities, and comforts that fall outside public assistance. In Pine Valley and surrounding San Diego County communities, families often seek a trust that coordinates with Supplemental Security Income, Medi-Cal, and other supports. This introduction explains how a properly drafted trust can protect eligibility, allocate funds responsibly, and provide a structure for long-term care planning. It also highlights the importance of clear trustee instructions, careful selection of distribution standards, and ongoing administration to meet changing needs over time.
Creating a Special Needs Trust involves more than drafting paperwork; it requires careful consideration of the beneficiary’s current and future needs, available public benefits, and the family’s goals. In Pine Valley, many clients prioritize maintaining benefit eligibility while enhancing quality of life through targeted trust distributions for education, therapies, transportation, and recreational activities. This paragraph outlines initial planning steps, including gathering medical and financial records, identifying potential trustees or trust managers, and considering whether a first-party or third-party trust is appropriate given the beneficiary’s circumstances and available assets.
A Special Needs Trust provides a legal framework that helps preserve public benefits while allowing supplemental support for the beneficiary’s needs and preferences. For families in Pine Valley, this arrangement reduces the risk that cash gifts, inheritances, or settlements could disqualify a loved one from essential programs like SSI and Medi-Cal. The trust also documents the grantor’s intentions, reduces family conflict over decision-making, and creates a mechanism for professional or family trustees to manage funds responsibly. Thoughtful provisions can address housing, health-related costs not covered by benefits, therapies, adaptive equipment, and enrichment activities that improve overall well-being.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provide estate planning and trust services for families throughout California, including Pine Valley and San Diego County. Our approach emphasizes practical, personalized planning with clear communication and attentive follow-up. We assist clients with drafting Special Needs Trusts, coordinating with existing benefit programs, and preparing related estate documents such as wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. Clients can expect careful review of financial circumstances, collaborative drafting of trust terms, and guidance on trustee responsibilities to ensure the trust functions as intended and adapts to changing legal and personal circumstances.
A Special Needs Trust is a legal arrangement designed to hold assets for a disabled individual while preserving eligibility for means-tested public benefits. There are different types of trusts, including third-party trusts funded by family assets and first-party trusts funded with the beneficiary’s own assets. The trust document sets distribution standards, appoints a trustee to manage funds, and specifies permissible uses that supplement rather than replace public benefits. Properly structured trusts also include provisions for successor trustees, record-keeping, and reimbursement to Medicaid where legally required, helping families plan for both immediate and long-term financial support.
Drafting an effective Special Needs Trust requires attention to statutory rules and practical administration. Important considerations include who will serve as trustee, how distributions will be made to avoid benefit disqualification, and whether the trust should include provisions for discretionary distributions for nonessential goods or services. For families in Pine Valley, understanding local resources, medical providers, and support networks is also helpful in designing a trust that meets daily living, medical, educational, and social needs. Regular review ensures the trust remains aligned with changes in benefits rules, family circumstances, and the beneficiary’s needs.
A Special Needs Trust is a legal vehicle that holds assets for the benefit of an individual with disabilities without jeopardizing eligibility for public assistance programs. Its key functions include managing funds to pay for supplemental needs such as therapies, transportation, personal care items, and enrichment activities, while protecting means-tested benefits. The trustee exercises discretion within the trust’s terms to balance immediate needs with long-term sustainability. Properly drafted language addresses distribution standards, asset management, successor trustees, and any required Medicaid payback provisions, ensuring the trust fulfills both protective and supportive roles for the beneficiary.
Essential elements of a Special Needs Trust include the trust instrument, trustee appointment, distribution language, funding plan, and record-keeping procedures. Administrative processes typically involve initial funding or coordination with estate documents, ongoing trust accounting, periodic reviews of benefit eligibility, and careful documentation of all distributions. Trustees may need to consult with financial advisors, care managers, or other professionals to make informed decisions. Families should also plan for successor trustees and communicate the trust’s purpose to reduce misunderstandings. Clear instructions and careful administration help maintain benefits while improving quality of life for the beneficiary.
Understanding common terms used in trust planning helps families make informed decisions. This glossary covers phrases frequently encountered when creating a Special Needs Trust, such as first-party trust, third-party trust, payback provision, discretion, and representative payee. Clear definitions explain how each concept affects benefit eligibility, trustee duties, and the trust’s long-term purpose. Familiarity with these terms allows families in Pine Valley to participate more effectively in planning conversations and ensures that trust documents reflect their goals and priorities while aligning with applicable state and federal rules governing public benefits and trust administration.
A first-party Special Needs Trust is funded with assets that belong to the beneficiary, often from inheritance, settlement, or personal savings. This type of trust is designed to hold those assets for the beneficiary while preserving eligibility for public benefits. Legal rules may require a payback provision to reimburse Medicaid for benefits provided during the beneficiary’s lifetime. The trustee must manage distributions carefully to avoid disqualification from programs like SSI and Medi-Cal. Families should evaluate timing, funding sources, and payback obligations when considering this trust type to ensure it meets both financial and care goals.
A third-party Special Needs Trust is created by someone other than the beneficiary—usually a parent, grandparent, or other family member—and is funded with their assets. Because the trust property never belonged to the beneficiary, a payback to Medicaid is typically not required, allowing leftover funds to be distributed to named remainder beneficiaries after the beneficiary’s death. This arrangement is often used in estate planning to provide long-term supplemental support without affecting public benefits. Drafting should specify trustee powers, distribution standards, and conditions that reflect the grantor’s intentions and the beneficiary’s anticipated needs.
A payback provision requires that remaining trust assets be used to reimburse certain public benefit programs, such as Medicaid, for costs paid on behalf of the beneficiary after the beneficiary’s death. This provision is commonly associated with first-party trusts funded with the beneficiary’s own assets. Properly drafted payback language will comply with legal requirements while setting clear expectations for the trust’s remainder distribution. Families should understand when a payback is triggered and how it may affect the choice of trust vehicle or estate planning strategy to preserve as much value as possible for intended heirs or causes.
Discretionary distributions are payments from the trust made at the trustee’s judgment to enhance the beneficiary’s quality of life without replacing public benefits. These distributions can cover items like transportation, education, social activities, and adaptive devices that are not provided by public programs. Trustees must document decisions, consider the beneficiary’s needs, and ensure distributions do not affect eligibility. Clear distribution standards in the trust instrument help trustees balance current needs with future sustainability, and discretionary authority allows flexibility to respond to changing circumstances and opportunities that improve the beneficiary’s daily life.
When planning for a loved one with disabilities, families may compare Special Needs Trusts to alternatives such as outright gifts, joint accounts, or relying solely on public benefits. Outright transfers can jeopardize eligibility for means-tested programs, while trusts are designed to protect benefits and provide structured supplemental support. The choice between first-party and third-party trusts depends on who funds the trust and whether payback obligations are acceptable. Other legal tools, including powers of attorney and guardianship nominations, may complement trust planning to address decision-making and health care preferences. A balanced comparison considers legal rules, long-term care needs, and family priorities.
A limited or targeted planning approach may suffice when a beneficiary’s needs are short-term or when a small, clearly defined amount of additional support is required. In such cases, a family might choose modest protections like carefully structured gifts from third parties or brief supplemental arrangements that do not alter public benefit eligibility. This approach can be easier and less costly to implement, but it requires discipline and ongoing review to ensure that small changes in assets or benefits do not unintentionally disqualify the beneficiary. Families should assess whether short-term solutions truly meet long-term goals.
A limited approach might be appropriate when the beneficiary’s essential needs are adequately covered by public programs and the family is confident in those systems meeting foreseeable medical, housing, and support requirements. In such circumstances, minimal supplemental planning could focus on small discretionary funds or setting aside modest resources for occasional extras that do not threaten benefit eligibility. Families should remain aware that benefits rules can change and unexpected expenses may arise, so even limited plans benefit from periodic review and clear communication among family members about long-term intentions.
Comprehensive planning is advisable when the beneficiary has complex financial arrangements, ongoing high medical needs, or potential future income sources such as settlements or inheritances. A robust trust structure can coordinate benefit eligibility, manage large assets responsibly, and include provisions for professional management if needed. This approach reduces the risk of benefit interruption, ensures funds are used according to the grantor’s intentions, and provides mechanisms to address changing medical, housing, or care needs over time. Families facing complexity benefit from planning that anticipates multiple scenarios.
A comprehensive legal plan helps preserve family relationships and clarify roles by documenting decisions about trustee powers, distribution standards, successor trustees, and communication procedures. When families want long-term stability and consistent care for a loved one, a detailed trust reduces ambiguity that can lead to conflict. It can also establish protocols for ongoing review, dispute resolution, and coordination with care providers. This level of planning gives families confidence that the beneficiary’s needs will be met thoughtfully and that resources are managed to support quality of life for years to come.
A comprehensive approach to Special Needs Trust planning offers several benefits, including preservation of public benefits, purposeful use of assets for supplemental needs, and clearer management when multiple family members are involved. By addressing funding sources, trustee selection, and distribution standards in advance, families can reduce confusion and ensure consistent decisions that reflect their priorities. Comprehensive plans often integrate related estate documents so assets pass into the trust seamlessly through wills, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations, helping maintain continuity and avoiding unintended consequences that could affect benefits.
Beyond preserving benefits, a holistic plan can provide for continuity of care, establish plans for guardianship or decision-making if necessary, and include strategies for long-term funding such as life insurance or retirement benefits directed into third-party trusts. Families also gain peace of mind from having clear instructions for trustees and a framework for periodic review so the plan adapts to legal changes and the beneficiary’s evolving needs. This broader planning reduces the administrative burden on families and helps protect the beneficiary’s well-being across different life stages.
A key benefit of a comprehensive plan is the ability to protect eligibility for means-tested programs while permitting discretionary distributions that improve daily life. Trust language can be tailored so trustees make payments for supportive items that do not count as income for benefits calculations, such as therapies, recreational activities, or transportation. This careful balancing allows beneficiaries in Pine Valley to access additional opportunities and comforts without losing essential public supports. Thoughtful drafting and administration keep the focus on enhancing independence and participation in community life.
Comprehensive trust planning establishes clear trustee duties, reporting expectations, and distribution standards, which promotes transparency and reduces family disputes. By documenting how funds are to be used and by whom, the plan creates accountability for financial stewardship and protects the beneficiary from misuse or inconsistent handling of resources. Regular accounting and defined procedures for handling requests ensure the trust operates predictably. This administrative clarity supports long-term sustainability and helps trustees make defensible decisions that align with the grantor’s intent and the beneficiary’s best interests.
Collecting comprehensive medical, educational, and financial records early in the planning process saves time and helps create a trust tailored to the beneficiary’s needs. Documentation of diagnoses, treatment plans, service providers, and current benefit enrollment provides essential context for drafting distribution standards and funding strategies. Financial documents, including bank statements, retirement account details, and potential future assets, clarify what type of trust is appropriate and whether payback provisions will apply. Early record gathering also streamlines communication with trustees and service providers during trust administration.
A Special Needs Trust functions best with periodic review to accommodate changes in law, benefits programs, and the beneficiary’s circumstances. Establish a schedule for revisiting trust terms, funding arrangements, and trustee responsibilities, and document preferences regarding health care, housing, and social supports. Encouraging open communication among family members, trustees, and care providers reduces misunderstandings and keeps everyone aligned with the grantor’s intentions. Continual review also allows adjustments in distribution practices to respond to new opportunities that improve the beneficiary’s quality of life.
Families often choose a Special Needs Trust to protect eligibility for public benefits while ensuring access to funds for supplemental needs. Trusts can be tailored to the beneficiary’s lifestyle, providing resources for education, therapies, recreational programs, and other services not covered by means-tested programs. They also clarify the grantor’s wishes, help prevent misuse of funds, and enable professional management if family members are unable to serve. For many families in Pine Valley, these features bring both practical protection and peace of mind when planning for a loved one’s long-term care.
Other reasons to consider a Special Needs Trust include the desire to manage incoming funds like inheritances or settlements, to plan for transitions in care, and to limit family conflict by setting clear distribution rules. Trusts can work with other estate planning tools—wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives—to create a cohesive plan that addresses property transfers, decision-making authority, and medical preferences. Thoughtful planning helps families preserve public supports while offering meaningful enhancements that contribute to the beneficiary’s well-being and inclusion in community life.
Several common scenarios prompt the need for a Special Needs Trust, including receipt of an inheritance, personal injury settlement, or savings that could disqualify a beneficiary from means-tested benefits. Families caring for adults with disabilities who will rely on public programs for housing and health care often use trusts to provide supplementary support. Other circumstances include planning for children who will outlive their parents, arranging for life insurance proceeds to fund long-term needs, or coordinating funds following the death of a caregiver to ensure continuity of care and management of the beneficiary’s resources.
When a beneficiary receives an inheritance or sizeable gift, those funds can jeopardize enrollment in SSI or Medi-Cal unless properly managed. A Special Needs Trust can receive such assets and hold them for the beneficiary’s use without being counted as personal income or resources, provided the trust is structured correctly. Taking timely steps to establish and fund the trust helps preserve public benefits while allowing the assets to be used for supplemental support that enhances the beneficiary’s quality of life and long-term stability.
Settlement proceeds from a personal injury case may create financial resources that threaten benefit eligibility if placed directly in the beneficiary’s name. Routing settlement funds into a properly drafted Special Needs Trust prevents disqualification and enables the money to be spent on permissible supplemental needs. This approach requires careful coordination with the terms of the settlement and adherence to trust requirements, including any necessary payback provisions. Planning ahead with legal counsel helps ensure settlement language and trust documents work together to protect benefits and provide for the beneficiary.
Families planning for long-term care needs often turn to Special Needs Trusts to ensure continuity of support as the beneficiary ages or as care needs change. Trust provisions can address future housing, adaptive equipment, therapies, and community participation, while trustees manage funds to balance current expenses with preservation of resources. Including successor trustees and clear administrative procedures helps maintain services during transitions caused by changes in family circumstances or caregiver availability, creating a stable financial framework for the beneficiary’s evolving needs.
We provide local trust planning services for Pine Valley and neighboring areas in San Diego County, offering clear guidance on creating Special Needs Trusts that align with California rules and local resources. Our team helps families evaluate funding options, select appropriate trustees, and draft trust provisions that support the beneficiary’s quality of life while preserving eligibility for public benefits. We also coordinate with other estate planning documents—wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives—to ensure seamless transfers and continuity of care, giving families a practical roadmap for long-term planning.
Clients appreciate our practical approach to Special Needs Trust planning, which focuses on designing documents that reflect family priorities and comply with applicable rules governing public benefits. We work closely with families to understand the beneficiary’s needs, identify funding sources, and draft distribution standards that support both short-term comforts and long-term sustainability. Clear communication and careful drafting help avoid common pitfalls that can unintentionally affect benefit eligibility, and we prioritize accessible guidance so families feel confident in the trust’s ability to support their loved one.
Our services include comprehensive document drafting and coordination with related estate planning instruments such as pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives. We assist in naming trustees and successor trustees, developing funding plans, and preparing certification of trust or other documents needed for institutions. For clients expecting settlements or inheritances, we provide strategies to receive funds into the trust without compromising benefits. The goal is to create a cohesive plan that minimizes administrative burden for families while addressing the beneficiary’s practical needs.
We also offer ongoing support for trust administration, including guidance on record-keeping, reporting, and distributions that align with benefit rules. Families benefit from having a clear protocol for managing requests and making discretionary payments that enhance the beneficiary’s quality of life. When circumstances change, we help review and, if appropriate, amend trust provisions to reflect new goals or legal developments. Our focus is on practical, durable planning solutions that help families in Pine Valley protect benefits and plan for a stable future.
Our planning process begins with a thorough intake to understand the beneficiary’s medical needs, current benefits, and family goals. We review financial documents to determine asset sources and whether a first-party or third-party trust is appropriate. Drafting follows with detailed trust terms, selection of trustees, and coordination with estate documents like wills and powers of attorney. After execution, we provide guidance for funding the trust and initial administrative steps. We also offer follow-up support to address beneficiary changes, funding events, or updates in benefit rules that may affect trust operation.
The first step involves gathering medical records, benefit statements, financial documents, and family input to build a complete picture of the beneficiary’s situation. This assessment identifies current eligibility for programs like SSI and Medi-Cal, potential future sources of income or assets, and the family’s objectives for supplemental support. Careful information gathering ensures the chosen trust vehicle aligns with both legal requirements and the beneficiary’s needs. Early discussions also address trustee selection and whether co-trustees or professional management will be necessary for long-term administration.
During the benefits review we examine current enrollment in SSI, Medi-Cal, and other assistance programs and identify actions that could affect eligibility. This analysis guides decisions about trust type and draft language so that distributions supplement rather than replace public benefits. We also evaluate representative payee arrangements, pending applications, and any upcoming changes in income or resources that may require different planning strategies. Understanding benefits rules helps shape distribution guidelines and trustee responsibilities to avoid unintended disqualification.
We prepare an inventory of assets including bank accounts, retirement plans, life insurance, potential inheritances, and any pending settlements that could fund the trust. This step identifies timing and legal considerations for moving funds into a Special Needs Trust and whether trust funding should be immediate or staggered. It also helps determine whether payback provisions will apply and if alternate planning tools, such as third-party trusts or beneficiary designations, are more suitable to preserve value for intended remainder beneficiaries.
Once the assessment is complete, we draft the trust document and related estate planning instruments tailored to the beneficiary’s needs and family objectives. We provide guidance on clear distribution standards, trustee powers, record-keeping requirements, and successor trustee provisions. In coordination with clients, we identify appropriate trustees and provide options for co-trustees or institutional trustees if desired. This stage includes drafting pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives to ensure assets flow into the trust and decision-making authority is in place when needed.
Customizing trust language involves specifying allowable distributions, documenting the grantor’s intent for supplemental support, and including clauses for Medicaid payback if required. We draft provisions to clarify the trustee’s discretionary authority, define how requests are evaluated, and set expectations for accounting and reporting. Tailored language reduces ambiguity and helps trustees make consistent decisions aligned with the family’s priorities. We also consider contingencies, such as changes in housing needs or eligibility rules, to keep the trust adaptable over time.
After reviewing draft documents with the family, we coordinate execution, notarization, and any necessary witness requirements to ensure legal validity. We then assist with the funding plan, which may include beneficiary designations, transfers into the trust, and instructions for handling future gifts or settlements. Proper funding steps are critical to ensure trust assets are recognized and not treated as the beneficiary’s personal resources. We provide written guidance for banks, insurers, and other institutions to help complete transfers smoothly and in compliance with institutional procedures.
After funding, effective administration keeps the trust functioning as intended. This includes maintaining accurate records of all transactions, making distributions consistent with benefits rules, and conducting periodic reviews to address changes in the beneficiary’s needs or in state and federal program rules. Trustees should document rationale for discretionary distributions and stay informed about rehabilitation, educational, and community resources that could enhance the beneficiary’s life. Regular reviews also help families update trustee appointments, amend trust language if necessary, and ensure continuity of care across life changes.
Trust accounting involves maintaining detailed records of income, expenses, and distributions, which is important for transparency and for demonstrating that trust payments do not replace public benefits. Proper documentation supports trustee decisions, assists with potential audits, and provides a clear history for successor trustees. Trustees should retain receipts, notes explaining discretionary decisions, and periodic statements summarizing trust activity. Good record-keeping practices protect the beneficiary’s interests and make administration more efficient when circumstances change or when new trustees assume responsibility.
Periodic review ensures the trust remains responsive to the beneficiary’s evolving needs and to changes in benefit eligibility rules. Reviews may prompt amendments to distribution standards, trustee powers, or funding strategies based on new medical developments, changes in family resources, or updates to state or federal law. Establishing a schedule for review and building flexibility into the trust document helps families adapt without disrupting benefits. Ongoing counsel and periodic consultations help trustees make informed choices and maintain the long-term viability of the plan.
A Special Needs Trust is designed to hold assets for a disabled individual while preserving eligibility for means-tested public benefits such as SSI and Medi-Cal. The trust holds resources that would otherwise count as the beneficiary’s assets, and its distribution rules are drafted so that payments supplement rather than replace benefits. Trustees make decisions on allowable expenses—such as therapies, transportation, and recreational activities—that enhance quality of life without disqualifying the beneficiary from public assistance programs. Proper drafting and administration are essential to maintain benefit eligibility while using trust funds for permitted supplemental needs. This arrangement provides a practical way to manage funds responsibly and to improve day-to-day living without jeopardizing vital government supports.
A trustee may be a trusted family member, friend, or a corporate trustee, and the selection depends on the trustee’s willingness and ability to manage finances and comply with the trust’s terms. When choosing a trustee, consider financial management skills, familiarity with the beneficiary’s needs, availability for ongoing administration, and ability to work with care providers and government agencies. Naming successor trustees ensures continuity in the event the primary trustee is unable to serve. Clear written instructions in the trust reduce ambiguity and help trustees make consistent, benefits-compliant decisions on distributions and record-keeping.
A first-party Special Needs Trust is funded with assets that belong to the beneficiary, such as an inheritance or settlement, and typically includes a provision to reimburse certain public benefits programs after the beneficiary’s death. A third-party trust is funded by someone other than the beneficiary, usually a parent or other family member, and generally does not require payback to Medicaid, allowing remainder funds to pass to other beneficiaries named in the trust. The choice between these types depends on funding sources, the family’s goals for remainder assets, and whether payback obligations are acceptable under the circumstances.
When a Special Needs Trust is funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, state rules often require a payback provision to reimburse Medicaid for benefits paid on behalf of the beneficiary during life. How this applies varies by trust type and funding source; third-party trusts usually avoid Medicaid payback requirements because the funds never belonged to the beneficiary. It is important to draft payback language carefully to comply with legal requirements while honoring the grantor’s wishes. Families should consider the impact of payback rules when deciding how to fund a trust and whether alternate planning vehicles are preferable for preserving remainder assets.
Funding a Special Needs Trust with an inheritance or settlement requires timely legal steps to ensure the funds are held properly and do not count as the beneficiary’s personal resources. For inheritances, pour-over wills or beneficiary designations can direct assets into a third-party trust created by the family. For settlements, language in the settlement documents should specify trust funding or substitute payees to ensure proceeds are transferred directly into the trust. Proper coordination with insurers, courts, and financial institutions is critical to avoid unintended disqualification from benefits and to maintain the trust’s protective purpose.
A Special Needs Trust can pay for education, recreational activities, therapies, and other services that enhance the beneficiary’s life, provided those distributions are structured so they do not replace public benefits. Educational programs, adaptive sports, and social enrichment activities are common permissible uses. Trustees should document how such expenditures support the beneficiary’s well-being and ensure distributions align with trust standards. Consulting with benefits administrators when planning larger or recurring payments helps avoid unintentional impacts on eligibility and supports thoughtful, compliant use of trust funds for meaningful life improvements.
Periodic review of a Special Needs Trust is important to respond to changes in the beneficiary’s medical needs, family circumstances, and updates to benefits rules. Reviews may prompt amendments to distribution standards, trustee powers, or funding arrangements. Establishing a schedule for review—such as every few years or after major life events—helps keep the trust aligned with current objectives. Regular consultations with legal counsel and coordinated communication among trustees and family members ensure the plan remains practical, benefits-compliant, and responsive to the beneficiary’s changing needs over time.
If the named trustee can no longer serve, the trust document should name successor trustees to ensure smooth continuity of administration. Successor trustees step in according to the trust’s succession provisions and assume responsibility for record-keeping, distributions, and coordination with care providers. Including a clear chain of succession and instructions for transition reduces the risk of administrative gaps that could affect benefit eligibility or access to needed funds. Periodic review of trustee suitability and the inclusion of alternate trustee options provide added protection against unforeseen changes in trustee availability.
Trusts interact with powers of attorney and health care directives by creating a comprehensive plan for financial and medical decision-making. While a power of attorney addresses financial decisions when a person can no longer act, a Special Needs Trust holds assets for the beneficiary’s benefit and governs how funds are used. Advance health care directives communicate medical preferences and appoint a health care agent for decisions about treatment. Coordinating these documents ensures that financial resources, health care choices, and guardianship nominations work together to support the beneficiary’s overall welfare and to provide clarity during transitions.
Leftover funds in a third-party Special Needs Trust are commonly directed to remainder beneficiaries named by the grantor, such as family members or charitable organizations, because these trusts are funded by someone other than the beneficiary and typically avoid Medicaid payback. In contrast, first-party trusts often include a payback provision requiring reimbursement to Medicaid for benefits paid during the beneficiary’s lifetime. Planning for remainders should be addressed when the trust is drafted so the grantor’s wishes are clear and to coordinate with estate plans that may include pour-over wills or other mechanisms to ensure assets are distributed as intended after the beneficiary’s death.
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