Special Needs Trusts
Protect Their Benefits. Honor Their Life. Preserve Your Peace of Mind.
When you love someone with a disability, your biggest fear isn’t today—it’s what happens when you’re no longer here to protect them.
A Special Needs Trust helps ensure your loved one can live a full, supported life without losing critical government benefits like SSI or Medicaid.
You don’t have to choose between helping them financially and protecting their future.
You can do both.
The Problem: Good Intentions Can Cause Real Harm
Many well-meaning families plan to “just leave money” to a child or loved one with special needs.
Unfortunately, that can accidentally disqualify them from benefits they rely on for:
Medical care
Housing assistance
Long-term support services
Even a modest inheritance can undo years of stability.
You shouldn’t have to risk your loved one’s care just to help them.
You’re Not Alone—and You’re Not Expected to Know This.
Most families are never taught how special needs planning works.
The rules are complex. The consequences are serious.
That’s where guidance matters.
At The Happy Lawyer, we help families:
Protect benefits
Preserve assets
Create clarity instead of confusion
You don’t need to become an expert.
You just need the right plan.
The Solution: A Special Needs Trust
A Special Needs Trust is a legal tool that:
Holds assets for your loved one’s benefit
Allows those assets to be used for quality-of-life expenses
Keeps eligibility for SSI and Medicaid intact
It creates a safety net that lasts—so your loved one is cared for even when you can’t be there yourself.
What a Special Needs Trust Can Pay For:
Therapies and medical services not covered by Medicaid
Education and vocational training
Transportation
Caregivers and companions
Hobbies, travel, and personal enrichment
This isn’t just about money.
It’s about dignity, independence, and joy.
Here’s what working together looks like:
1. We Listen First
We take time to understand your family, your loved one’s needs, and your biggest concerns.
2. We Design the Right Trust
We determine whether a third-party or first-party special needs trust is appropriate and tailor it to your situation.
3. We Coordinate the Full Plan
We align the trust with your will, powers of attorney, beneficiary designations, and overall estate plan—so everything works together.
4. You Leave With Confidence
You’ll know exactly how your plan works, why it works, and how it protects the person you love most.
How We Can Help
What Happens If You Don’t Plan?
Without proper planning:
Benefits can be lost
Funds may need to be spent down unnecessarily
Loved ones may face court involvement or guardianship issues
Family members may be left with unclear roles and stress
Planning now means less crisis later.
This Is About Peace—Not Just Paperwork
Parents and caregivers often tell me the same thing:
“I just want to know they’ll be okay.”
A Special Needs Trust helps answer that question—clearly and legally.
It allows you to stop worrying and start enjoying time with your loved one, knowing there’s a plan in place.
Ready to Talk About Protecting Your Loved One?
If you have a child, spouse, or family member with special needs—and you want to protect their future while preserving benefits—I’m here to help.
Let’s talk through your options and create a plan that truly fits your family.
👉 Schedule a Confidential Planning Conversation
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes—when properly drafted, they are a powerful and recognized planning tool.
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No. Even modest assets can cause benefit disqualification without proper planning.ven modest assets can cause benefit disqualification without proper planning.
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Absolutely—and we often coordinate gifting and inheritance strategies for extended family.
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You may need a Special Needs Trust if you want to provide financial support to a loved one with a disability without jeopardizing their eligibility for government benefits like SSI or Medicaid.
If your loved one:
Receives (or may receive) needs-based benefits
Cannot manage money independently
Could inherit money, life insurance, or retirement assets
Has family members who want to help financially
…then a Special Needs Trust is often an essential part of protecting their future.
Without proper planning, even a small inheritance or gift can unintentionally disqualify them from benefits they rely on for medical care and daily support.
A Special Needs Trust allows you to help—without causing harm.
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A Special Needs Trust is typically appropriate when a child or loved one has a physical, developmental, or cognitive disability and depends on government benefits for healthcare or support services.
Even families who don’t consider themselves “wealthy” often need this type of trust. Life insurance proceeds, retirement accounts, personal injury settlements, or well-intentioned gifts can all create problems if they are not handled correctly.
The right trust ensures assets are used to improve quality of life—not replace benefits.