Estate planning is a crucial aspect of ensuring the financial well-being and security of your loved ones after you’re gone. For special needs families, this process becomes even more critical. Special needs individuals may require ongoing care, support, and financial assistance throughout their lives, making thoughtful estate planning a vital tool for providing a secure future for both the individual and the entire family.

To address these challenges effectively, estate planning should be driven by the support needs of the individual with a disability and based on the financial resources needed for life. It should also be guided by the legal protections required and include the documents necessary to provide the individual with lifelong access to their financial resources. While some people attempt to take on this complex task on their own, in our experience, the resulting lack of coordination among expert professionals poses a risk to the estate plan’s success, and often to the individual with special needs. Conversely, having the right professional guidance and proper coordination among experts better positions the estate plan to succeed over time.