Providing For Loved Ones With Disabilities

When you have a family member with special needs, you may be so focused on their present care that planning for the future seems overwhelming. At Ally Legal Planning, we appreciate that you are dealing with a tangle of emotional and financial issues, and we strive to ease those burdens. We know there is no substitute for the care you provide for your loved one. We work with you to design a plan to ensure that level of care continues when you are no longer able to be the primary caregiver.

Protecting Eligibility For Benefit Programs

Planning for the care of a loved one with a disability during your lifetime and after your death includes many nuances. It requires distinct and careful consideration to ensure that your loved one’s eligibility for certain public benefit programs, such as Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid, is not jeopardized.

An essential component of special needs planning is including a special needs trust to hold assets intended for your loved one. While there are many other options that can be implemented, a special needs trust allows your assets to be used for your loved one to supplement their care while preserving their public benefits.

Guidance Through The Guardianship Process

Legal guardianship is sometimes necessary to care for an individual with a disability who is unable to make everyday life and financial decisions on their own. It is a complex legal process involving court compliance and oversight. Guardianships are a last resort when there are no other options available. When a formal guardianship becomes necessary, we will handle the legal compliance issues so you can continue to care for your loved one.

At Ally Legal Planning, we will walk you through alternative options that may be available. Through careful planning, guardianship may be avoided. Sometimes, however, guardianships are the best available option. In those cases, we will help you with the process from the establishment of the guardianship through continued legal reporting requirements.

Get Peace Of Mind With A Special Needs Plan

Our goal is to educate you regarding all available tools to provide the best care for your loved one with a disability. We will work with you to design a plan that will provide the best care for your loved one when you are no longer able to do so, including assistance with Guardianship if necessary. Call us at 410-826-1183 or email us to arrange a free consultation.