Special Needs Trusts as a Safeguard for Medicaid Eligibility

The Challenge of Needs-Based Benefits More than one in three people with disabilities rely on Medicaid, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Jointly funded by states and the federal government, Medicaid is a public assistance program that provides health insurance...

Key Documents for Parents of Children With Special Needs

August 21, 2025
Tim Larson
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Special Needs Planning, Wills & Trusts

One in five children in the United States have special needs, per the Annie E. Casey Foundation. These include children with physical, developmental, and behavioral disabilities. Beyond day-to-day responsibilities such as taking a child to medical appointments or providing direct...

Special Needs Planning for Blended Families

For blended families that include a child with special needs, financial and legal planning extends well beyond the usual parental concerns. But as with all family matters, proactive planning can help.

The Benefits of Establishing a Special Needs Trust Early

For families of children with disabilities, planning for a lifetime of support is both a practical necessity and a compassionate act. One of the most powerful tools available to help secure a stable financial future for a child with special...

10 Tips to Consider for Special Needs Planning

Careful planning for the future of a loved one with special needs is one of the most critical life-protecting tasks you will ever provide for them. To approach the planning process in a meaningful and comprehensive way, consider the following...

A military dad sits a table with his daughter on his lap. She is touching the tip of his nose with her finger and while he is holding a blue iPad.

Funding a Special Needs Trust With a Survivor Benefit Plan

An estimated 20 percent of military-connected children have special needs, according to the National Institutes of Health. With a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), military members can provide for their children with disabilities while helping them maintain access to other benefits.

Estate Planning for Parents of Children With Mental Illness

January 2, 2025
Tim Larson
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Special Needs Planning, Wills & Trusts

Mental illness in the United States is more common than most people may think. More than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness and one in six U.S. youth aged 6 to 17 experience a mental health...

I Don’t Need SSI or Medicaid. Why Get a Special Needs Trust?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that typically provides cash stipends to people who have paid into the Social Security system and who can't work because of a disability. (In some cases, it is possible to receive...

Funding a Special Needs Trust With a Structured Settlement

If you win a personal injury lawsuit, you may receive your award in a lump sum or as a structured settlement. With a structured settlement, you will receive payments over time; you may opt for a substantial initial amount, with lesser...

Supplemental vs. Special Needs Trusts: Any Difference?

Have you heard the terms “special” needs trust and “supplemental” needs trust and wondered what the difference is? The simple answer is that there’s no difference. Whether supplemental or special, these trusts serve the same purpose of helping meet the needs...