Question 1: What is special needs planning? Special-needs planning refers to the steps a parent with a child with disabilities should take in preparation for the child reaching adulthood or the parent dying and leaving the child without an appropriate guardian. Special-needs planning issues are not exclusive to children with disabilities, and also apply to, for example, adults who suffer … [Read more...] about Special Needs Planning: 3 Common Questions
Making Advance Medical Treatment Plans: Part 3 of 3
According to Florida law, nursing homes, hospices, hospitals and some insurance organizations are legally required to provide consumers with a written summary of their legal rights to create advance health care directives. A living will is an instrument you create while you are still alive and well enough to make those decisions. You may want to create one in addition to drafting a document … [Read more...] about Making Advance Medical Treatment Plans: Part 3 of 3
Making Advance Medical Treatment Plans: Part 2 of 3
A Living Will is a written document that allows you to make advance decisions regarding life-sustaining or prolonging medical treatments. A valid living will must contain certain information as outlined in Section 765.303 of the Florida Statutes. Also known as Health Care Advance Directives, Living Wills are completely different from legal wills. A legal will allows a person to decide who … [Read more...] about Making Advance Medical Treatment Plans: Part 2 of 3
Making Advance Medical Treatment Plans: Part 1 of 3
In most states, including Florida, individuals can appoint third parties to make decisions for them if they become mentally incapacitated or otherwise too ill to make decisions regarding their medical care. In Florida, residents can use several different types of forms or documents that allow others to help them make decisions for them. Before using any of these forms, you should contact our … [Read more...] about Making Advance Medical Treatment Plans: Part 1 of 3
Estate Planning for Parents of Autistic Children
If you’re the parent of a child with autism, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that one out of every 110 children, and one out of every 70 boys, has some form of autism. You’re familiar with the day-to-day challenges and rewards of bringing up a child with this condition, but what would happen to your child if you were no longer in the picture? It’s something no parent wants to think about, but … [Read more...] about Estate Planning for Parents of Autistic Children
Why a Special Needs Trust?
Imagine you have a loved one – your daughter, for instance – who has special needs. And, imagine your loved one gets government benefits, like Medicaid, to help cover the cost of her care. These benefits don’t generally put money in your daughter’s pocket. Instead, in most instances, they are paid directly to the professionals who provide services to your daughter. You, as your daughter’s parent, … [Read more...] about Why a Special Needs Trust?
What Does a Special Needs Trustee Do?
The trustee of a Special Needs Trust occupies an extremely important role. He or she is in charge of all the ordinary duties carried out by any other trustee, including: Managing and investing the trust assets on behalf of the beneficiaries of the trust; Keeping the books and records for the trust; Reporting to the IRS as appropriate; and Maintaining communication with the beneficiaries of … [Read more...] about What Does a Special Needs Trustee Do?
