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Source: Reprinted from the May 2018 Newsletter of Sheri R. Abrams, Attorney at Law, www.sheriabrams.com
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Do you have a child or young adult with disabilities, or know someone who does? If so, I'd like to let you know about a free guide I've created that will help you safeguard their future and legally prepare for their transition into adulthood.
Special
Needs Planning is critical to ensure that parents can stay in control, and access key benefits/resources that will be necessary to ensure a smooth transition into adulthood and beyond. When you download my new guide you will learn:
- How to choose legal guardians who can raise your child if something unexpectedly happens to you;
- How to ensure the guardians you choose have enough resources to provide your child with a lifetime of care;
- How to handle the process of guardianship once your child turns 18 so you can continue making decisions on his or her behalf;
- Alternatives to guardianship if your adult child is high-functioning;
- How to set up and fund a Special Needs Trust so your child has resources safely set aside for the future that won't jeopardize government benefits;
- How to use ABLE Accounts to save up to $100,000;
- Why you need a team of trusted advisors NOW, and who should be on that team to ensure the long-term care and protection of your child; and
- How to avoid the most common planning mistakes made by parents of children with special needs.
Have a great month,
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Arlington Virginia Social Security Office to Close
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I was recently informed that the Social Security office in Arlington, Virginia is closing on June 21, 2018.
This office, which is located at 1401 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209, serves 25,000 people annually.
Normally local Social Security offices are only closed if there is a reduction (or shift) in population.
However, in the case of Arlington County, its population went up by 13% between 2010 and 2017.
In addition to the hardship this office closing will create for those in Arlington, everyone in Northern Virginia will be affected by the increased work load that will now be handled by the other Social Security offices.
See press release by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
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The Most Critical Decision You Will Make When Creating Your Child's Special Needs Trust
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There are many very important decisions to make when creating your child's Special Needs Trust. But, the most important decision will be picking the person(s) who will be in charge of managing the trust.
This person is known as the "trustee" and he or she has the biggest impact on whether or not the instructions in the Special Needs Trust are carried out after you pass away. Selecting the wrong person can have serious consequences for your disabled loved one.
The best person to act as trustee will be financially stable and capable of making good financial choices. After all, this person may be in charge of investing a great deal of money. The trustee should also have a good relationship with your child. If the trustee interacts with him or her on a regular basis, they will have a better understanding of your child's special needs and will be better suited to make appropriate distributions of the trust funds.
Often, parents select a sibling to be trustee and this works more often than not. However, you should keep in mind that most Special Needs Trusts will state that any remaining trust funds will go to the beneficiary's siblings upon the death of the beneficiary. This can mean that the sibling trustee is motivated to withhold necessary distributions to the beneficiary to avoid draining their future inheritance. It may be hard to look at your child and picture them being so unscrupulous, but it has happened numerous times so it is better to carefully consider this possibility.
The trustee also needs to be organized and prudent enough to strictly follow the instructions and limitations outlined in the Special Needs Trust. If improper distributions are made there is a high risk that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid benefits will be terminated. Be sure that your trustee is aware enough to know when to seek the help of an attorney who understands Special Needs Trusts.
Be sure to give long and serious thought about who you will name as trustee of your child's Special Needs Trust. The decision can make or break all of the careful planning you have done for your child. If you would like to talk through your choices of trustee, please call the office to set up an appointment.
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Free Download of Sheri Abrams' Newly Updated Book "Don't Gamble With Your Social Security Disability Benefits"
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You can download a free copy:
For more information please click
here
to read our Press Release.
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| Our Office Location |
The law firm of Sheri R. Abrams, Attorney at Law is located at:
10467 White Granite Drive
Suite 306
Oakton, VA 22124
(571) 328-5795
This is in the "ServiceSource" building and there is plenty of free and accessible parking.
Our office is also accessible by public transportation.
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| Referrals |
If you know of someone who could use our legal services, please forward to him/her this e-mail newsletter or give him/her our telephone number: (571) 328-5795.
We provide legal services in the areas of Social Security Disability Law, Special Needs Planning, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Special Needs Trusts, Wills and Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Advance Medical Directives (Living Wills), Guardianship, Conservatorship, Disability Planning and Student Loan Discharge.
If you, or someone you know, is involved with an educational event or support group that would benefit from a presentation on any of the areas of law for which we provide legal services, please call us at (571) 328-5795.
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