If you are a parent of a child with special needs, you know the strength of the bond you form with your child. Especially when a special needs child has to stay under parental care for an extended time past adulthood, the bond between the child and parents can be extraordinary. With this bond, however, comes great concern. If your child is unable to handle financial and personal care needs, it puts a great deal of pressure on the parents to make sure the child is provided for.
At Christmas Spano & Owen, P.A., we understand the importance of this bond and the concern that comes with it. From our offices in Riverview, Tampa, Clearwater, and Tallahassee, we help clients with special needs planning throughout the State of Florida. With more than 55 combined years of legal experience, our Riverview special needs planning attorneys can help you establish an estate plan that will help you protect and provide for your special needs child long term.
We will help you with:
- Wills/trusts: A special needs trust (SNT) is a great tool for setting aside wealth for a special needs child. It allows a parent to protect a child's inheritance and ensure the child's needs are met, while still permitting the child to qualify for necessary government benefits, including Medicaid and SSI.
- Guardian appointments: One of the most important considerations in an estate plan for parents with special needs children involves making sure that the child will have someone to take care of his or her personal and financial decisions throughout the child's life. If a parent fails to appoint guardians for a special needs child, a court will make that determination without the benefit of knowing the parent's wishes.
- Benefits planning: Careful planning is especially important when special needs children are involved. Many forms of gifting will cause your child's other benefits to be minimized or completely jeopardized. Giving a generous gift to your child could end up being more damaging than good. We will use our experience and knowledge to help you avoid these pitfalls and protect the interests of your special needs child.
Your needs are simple: You want to leave an inheritance to meet your child's needs for years to come, and you want to do it in a way that minimizes tax consequences and prevents disqualification from Medicaid and other benefits. We can help.
Brandon Special Needs Planning Attorneys ∙ We Look Forward to Representing You
Although there is an added layer of importance to your estate plan when a special needs child is involved, do not stress it. The best thing you can do is talk with an attorney and begin establishing your estate plan. Call 813-902-3897 or 888-432-7421 toll free, or contact us online to schedule a consultation with a lawyer from our firm.
