Category: Elder Law

Ensure your Child's Future is Protected with Estate Planning

Ensure your Child’s Future is Protected with Estate Planning

Becoming a parent is an exciting journey filled with dreams and plans for the future. Amidst the joy and anticipation, you also need to consider your child’s future security. While no one wants to think of it, the worst could happen to you, and you could become unable to care for your child. Without an estate plan, your assets could go through a lengthy probate process, and the court would decide on guardianship for your children. Ensure your child’s future is protected with estate planning.

Estate planning involves organizing your financial affairs to ensure that your assets are managed and distributed according to your wishes after you pass away. It includes creating a will, assigning power of attorney and considering trusts. According to Experian, planning ahead can avoid potential legal complications and ensure that your loved ones are taken care of. Estate planning can also help minimize taxes and protect your assets from creditors.

Without a will, state laws determine the distribution of your assets and the guardianship of your children. This could mean that your child ends up with a relative you haven’t spoken to in years or foster care. An estate plan allows you to choose guardians and ensure that your child’s future is secure.

A will is the foundation of your estate plan. It should:

  • Name a guardian for your children.
  • Name an executor to manage your estate.
  • Specify who inherits your assets.

Power of attorney allows someone to make financial and health care decisions on your behalf, if you become incapacitated. This includes:

  • Financial Power of Attorney: Give someone the power to manage your finances and property.
  • Health Care Power of Attorney: Empower someone you trust to make medical decisions for you.

The best time to start estate planning is now. Waiting until your baby arrives can lead to delays and potential financial hardships. Building an emergency fund, contributing to a health savings account and setting up automatic savings transfers are great first steps. Proactively managing your finances can help reduce stress and ensure a smoother transition into parenthood.  Starting early also allows you to make informed decisions and adjust your plan.

When Joyce Marter, a financial therapist and author, was expecting her first daughter, she found herself living paycheck to paycheck with substantial student loans. In an article by the NY Post, she reflects and explains how she realized the immense value of having a solid financial plan before transitioning into parenthood. Marter recalls a conversation with her pregnant supervisor, who advised her that no one is ever truly ready for a baby: “None of us are really ever truly ready — you just take the plunge and figure it out as you go.”

Years later, as Marter prepared for her own child, she understood the importance of proactive financial planning. She began by building an emergency fund, contributing to a health savings account and avoiding unnecessary baby registry items. These steps provided a financial safety net and helped reduce stress during her pregnancy.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Ensure that your child’s future is protected and your wishes are honored with proper estate planning. If you would like to learn more about planning for minor children, please visit our previous posts.

References: NY Post (Oct. 18, 2023) “Savvy expecting parents need to start financial planning now” and Experian (Oct. 13, 2020) “How to Plan Your Estate as a New Parent – Experian

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Disability Insurance is a vital Component of Estate Planning

Disability Insurance is a vital Component of Estate Planning

Disability insurance is a vital component of comprehensive estate planning. It ensures that you and your family can maintain financial stability in the event of a disabling condition. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), understanding the essential aspects of disability insurance is vital to choosing the best policy for your needs.

Disability insurance provides income replacement if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. It is a safety net that ensures that you can continue to meet financial obligations, even when you are not earning a regular salary.

Imagine being the primary breadwinner for your family. One day, you suffer a severe injury that prevents you from working. Without disability insurance, the loss of income could lead to significant financial hardship. Disability insurance provides stability by covering these losses while you get back on your feet.

Selecting the right disability insurance policy requires understanding various factors and terms. For one, you need to understand the kind of liabilities you have to choose from to find the most suitable coverage. Combine this with Riders that match your needs to get customized, affordable disability coverage.

  • Own-Occupation: This type provides benefits if you cannot perform the duties of your specific occupation. It’s ideal for professionals, like doctors or lawyers, who have specialized skills.
  • Any Occupation: This type only provides benefits if you cannot work in any occupation suited to your experience and education. It’s less expensive but offers broader coverage.
  • Modified Own-Occupation: You receive benefits if you cannot perform your job and are not working in another job. This is a middle-ground option that balances cost and coverage.

What Riders are Available for Disability Insurance?

  • Residual Disability Rider: Provides partial benefits if you can work part-time but not full-time.
  • Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Rider: Adjusts benefits according to inflation, maintaining your purchasing power.
  • Future Increase Option Rider: You can increase coverage as your income grows without additional medical exams.

The cost of disability insurance varies based on several factors:

  • Age and Gender: Younger individuals and women typically pay higher premiums.
  • Occupation: High-risk jobs attract higher premiums.
  • Health: Pre-existing conditions can increase the cost.
  • Coverage Amount and Duration: Higher benefits and longer durations cost more.
  • Policy Riders: Additional features, like cost-of-living adjustments, can raise premiums.

Disability insurance is a vital component of comprehensive estate planning. Protecting your future requires careful planning. Once you’re injured, it’s too late to begin planning. That’s why you should contact an experienced attorney and start planning today. If you would like to learn more about disability insurance, please visit our previous posts. 

Reference: American Medical Association (AMA) (May 21, 2024) “Evaluating a disability policy | American Medical Association”

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Godparents Lack Legal Rights Unless Named as Guardians

Godparents Lack Legal Rights Unless Named as Guardians

Choosing godparents for your children is an important decision for many families. However, it’s crucial to understand that godparents lack any legal rights, unless named as guardians in your will. If you’d like your children’s godparents to serve as guardians in an emergency, consider if they’re suitable for the responsibility and take the legal steps needed to recognize them as guardians.

Parents often choose godparents to have a religious or spiritual influence on their children. They are typically involved in special ceremonies, such as baptisms, and may play a supportive role in their children’s upbringing. However, being a godparent does not grant any legal rights or responsibilities over the child.

On the other hand, a guardian is legally responsible for the care and upbringing of a minor child if the parents pass away or are unable to care for them. According to Forbes, guardianship is a significant legal role that includes making decisions about the child’s education, healthcare and general welfare.

The main reason godparents cannot automatically become guardians is that the roles are different in nature and responsibility. While godparents are chosen for their moral and spiritual guidance, guardians are chosen to take on the full parental role in case of an emergency. While there is overlap between these roles, a capable spiritual guide will not always have the time and resources to become a parent.

Choosing a guardian for your children is a complex and often emotional decision. Here are some key factors to consider:

Lifestyle Fit

Think about the potential guardian’s age and life situation. Asking someone to raise your children is a big request, and choosing someone whose lifestyle can accommodate this responsibility is essential. For example, a guardian with grown children might face a significant lifestyle adjustment if asked to care for young children again.

Location

Ideally, the guardian should live near your home. This minimizes the disruption to your child’s life, allowing them to stay in the same school and community, which can be a source of comfort during a difficult time.

Financial Circumstances

Raising children can be expensive. Make sure that the potential guardian is financially stable, and consider setting up a trust to cover your child’s expenses. This will help avoid placing a financial burden on the guardian and ensure that your child has the resources they need.

Shared Values

Choose a guardian who shares your values and parenting philosophy. While no one will be a perfect match, it’s important that the guardian can provide a similar upbringing to what you would have wanted for your child.

While many consider naming a married couple as co-guardians, it’s often simpler to name a single individual. This helps avoid complications if the couple divorces or disagrees about how to care for your child. You can also name one or more successor guardians who will take over if the primary guardian is unable or unwilling to take on the role when the time comes.

Always ask the person you want to name as guardian if they are willing to accept the role. This way, you can be sure they’re prepared and willing to take on the responsibility. Naming someone without their consent can lead to confusion and complications. In most states, you must include this information in your will to legally name a guardian for your minor children. This is a critical step to ensure that your wishes are followed and to avoid leaving the decision up to the courts.

If you don’t name a guardian in your will, the courts will decide who will take care of your children. This can lead to family disputes and result in a decision that may not align with your wishes. Naming a guardian in your will gives you control over who will care for your children and helps stabilize them during a challenging time.

Remember, godparents lack any legal rights, unless named as guardians for your minor children in your estate plan, Choosing a guardian for your children is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. Consult an experienced estate planning attorney to discuss your options. If you would like to learn more about guardianship, please visit our previous posts. 

Reference: Forbes (May 29, 2018) “Selecting Your Children’s Guardians Is Very Different Than Naming Their Godparents

The Estate of The Union Season 3|Episode 8

The Estate of The Union Season 3|Episode 8 is out now!

The Estate of The Union Season 3|Episode 8 is out now! We all accumulate stuff as we go through life. When someone dies, what to do with all the stuff the deceased owned can be complex and exhausting.

It can also create fights over Who Gets What. In this edition of The Estate of the Union, Brad Wiewel interviews Ann Lumley, the Director of After Life Care at Texas Trust Law. Ann has seen just about everything that can happen with an estate where stuff (otherwise known as heirlooms and collectibles) can be an issue. Ann helps dissect the problems and highlights some strategies to help avoid collisions that often occur.

 

 

In each episode of The Estate of The Union podcast, host and lawyer Brad Wiewel will give valuable insights into the confusing world of estate planning, making an often daunting subject easier to understand. It is Estate Planning Made Simple! The Estate of The Union Season 3|Episode 8 is out now! The episode can be found on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or anywhere you get your podcasts. If you would prefer to watch the video version, please visit our YouTube page. Please click on the links to listen to or watch the new installment of The Estate of The Union podcast. We hope you enjoy it.

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Texas Trust Law focuses its practice exclusively in the area of wills, probate, estate planning, asset protection, and special needs planning. Brad Wiewel is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. We provide estate planning services, asset protection planning, business planning, and retirement exit strategies.

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Medicaid Asset Protection Trust can help with Long Term Care Costs

Medicaid Asset Protection Trust can help with Long Term Care Costs

The numbers are clear: 70% of Americans expect to need long-term care at some point in their retirement. Many people aren’t aware of the importance of long-term care until they are uninsurable because of health conditions or can’t afford the premiums. How can you plan? A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust can help with long term care costs.

Depending upon where you live and the type of care needed, long-term care costs anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 per year. With an average stay of two to five years, it’s a hefty financial burden without long-term care insurance, a MAPT, and good planning.

Creating a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust requires the help of an experienced estate planning attorney to be sure you obtain all of the benefits of such a trust. Long-term care costs are one of the biggest financial worries for retirees, as noted in a recent article, “This Trust Can Protect Your Assets From Long-Term Care Costs,” from Kiplinger.

The Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) moves money out of your estate into a trust, so it becomes uncountable for Medicaid means-testing purposes. It has to be created and funded at least five years before the applicant can be deemed eligible for Medicaid funding, known as the “Medicaid look-back.”

The trust needs to be set up by an experienced estate planning attorney because there are many fine points to consider. The MAPT won’t serve its intended purpose if it’s not set up correctly.

The MAPT must be an irrevocable trust, meaning the grantor (who set up the trust) no longer has access to those assets. This can be a little unnerving. You’ll also want to speak with your estate planning attorney about your plans for the near and distant future. How will you access funds if you’re putting funds into the trust? Who will be able to access them?

This trust will also benefit families with assets closer to the old estate tax levels. In 2024, the gift and estate tax exemptions are still very high—$13.61 million. However, if the law sunsets without Congress acting, the estate tax could revert to around $5 million or lower if the federal government decides more wealth needs to be taxed. Assets in a trust are not part of the taxable estate, so having a trust also protects assets from federal and state estate taxes.

Trusts are also powerful means of controlling asset distribution. Your MAPT could distribute a set amount of money to a beneficiary throughout their lifetime, or a minor grandchild could be given a certain amount after they’ve completed four years of college or achieved a particular goal.

Consult an estate planning attorney to learn how a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust can help with long term care costs, if they’re right for you, and how to get started. If you would like to learn more about managing assets for long term care, please visit our previous posts. 

Reference: Kiplinger (July 11, 2024) “This Trust Can Protect Your Assets From Long-Term Care Costs”

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Naming Guardians for Minor Children Is Critical for Parents

Naming Guardians for Minor Children Is Critical for Parents

Naming guardians for your minor children is one of the most critical estate planning decisions for parents. It ensures that someone you trust will care for your children in the manner you prefer if you are no longer able to do so. Failing to choose a guardian can make your passing even harder on your children.

An insightful article from Slate tells of an unplanned guardianship situation. As the story goes, a couple in their 60s had decided not to have children but found themselves as the only available guardians for a great-nephew. The child’s mother passed away, his father was in prison and no one else was available. This forced the couple to fill the needs of a grieving 10-year-old from a different socioeconomic background. While they told of doing their best, it was hard for them and their great-nephew. This story emphasizes the unpredictability of life and the critical nature of having a guardianship plan in place.

An article from Forbes highlights a range of considerations for choosing a guardian. You must consider not just who loves your children but also who can handle the responsibility. Consider their lifestyle, location, values, and the potential guardian’s family dynamics. Are they prepared to take on the emotional and financial responsibility of raising children?

Who would be the first to step in and care for your children in an emergency? Sometimes, the best choice for a guardian might not be immediate family but a close friend or someone who has always been part of your children’s lives.

If your child is old enough, their opinion might be helpful. Asking them could provide insights into who they would be comfortable living with should anything happen to you.

Without a will specifying a guardian for minor children, the courts will decide who will care for your children. This situation can lead to outcomes you might never have intended. By choosing a guardian yourself, you control the process and ensure that your children’s future is in the hands of someone you trust.

Absolutely. Your decision today isn’t set in stone. People’s circumstances and relationships change, and your estate plan, including guardianship decisions, should be reviewed and can be revised as needed.

Becoming a guardian on short notice can be overwhelming. It’s crucial to consider the emotional and psychological support the child will need, such as counseling, and the practical aspects, like schooling and healthcare. Understanding the child’s background and needs will help smooth their transition into your family.

It’s never too early to plan for the future of your minor children. Naming guardians for your minor children is critical for parents, and requires thoughtful consideration and difficult conversations. If you would like to learn more about guardianship, please visit our previous posts.

References: Forbes (Jan. 29, 2020) “10 Tips for Choosing a Guardian for Your Minor Child” and Slate (Jan. 17, 2022) “A Child Has Suddenly Come Into My Care”

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Planning for Retirement with a Special Needs Child

Planning for Retirement with a Special Needs Child

Retirement is a time to relax and enjoy life after years of hard work. However, parents of children with special needs will need to handle this transition with care. Planning for retirement with a special needs child is critical to your child’s long-term care and your own financial future.

Beginning your retirement planning early is crucial. Likewise, this process should be an extension of your existing financial planning. Starting early allows you to anticipate state and federal benefits changes and adjust your strategies accordingly.

For instance, Medicaid waivers and other support systems can be unpredictable. Just because these benefits systems can supplement your needs today doesn’t mean they’ll be able to do so tomorrow. Flexible, far-sighted financial preparation can help you absorb changes in benefits programs.

Open communication between both parents is vital. It’s common for parents to prioritize their child’s needs over their own retirement savings. However, finding a balance is key. Both parents should be on the same page regarding their goals for retirement and their child’s future. Involving a financial planner and a special needs attorney can help align these goals and create a comprehensive plan.

Two professionals with Special Needs Alliance weighed in on planning for retirement with a special needs child. One, Jeff Yussman, emphasizes the importance of honest discussions about assets, liabilities, and the desired retirement lifestyle.

Another advisor, Emily Kile, highlights the need to leave an advocate for their child in advance. It may be smart to move a child with special needs to a future housing option while parents are still alive. This can reduce the pain and uncertainty of making such moves when the parents pass away.

The first step is reviewing the titles on your accounts, beneficiary designations and estate plans. Ensuring that the chosen trustees and agents align with the goals for your child with special needs is critical. You should consider the financial security available through life insurance policies, such as second-to-die life insurance.

Parents must also plan for the long-term care of their child with special needs. This includes preparing for the potential loss of private health insurance and understanding the longevity of their financial plans. It is important to have regular estate planning meetings that account for these factors.

While well-intentioned family members might offer to care for your child, their circumstances can change. Marriages, divorces, and other life events can impact their ability to provide consistent care. Plan for these variables to ensure your child’s stability.

Planning for retirement with a special needs child can be challenging. However, you don’t have to do it alone. If you would like to learn more about special needs planning, please visit our previous posts. 

Reference: Special Needs Alliance (Oct. 7, 2022) “retirement planning steps you need to take

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Integrating Irrevocable Trust into Medicaid Planning

Integrating Irrevocable Trust into Medicaid Planning

When planning, especially under the umbrella of elder law and Medicaid, one tool often considered is the irrevocable trust. While reviewing the advantages and challenges of integrating an irrevocable trust into Medicaid planning, it’s important to consider the broader implications of asset management for elder care. This article helps to clarify how these trusts work, their benefits and their limitations.

An irrevocable trust serves a strategic role in Medicaid planning. By transferring assets into an irrevocable trust, these assets are generally not counted as personal assets for Medicaid eligibility purposes. This arrangement allows individuals to qualify for Medicaid, while preserving their wealth for future beneficiaries. This aspect of asset protection is paramount, as the trust shields the assets from creditors and legal claims, ensuring that the beneficiaries’ inheritance remains intact and secure.

Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts (MAPTs) are one type of irrevocable trust specifically designed to safeguard a Medicaid applicant’s assets from being counted towards Medicaid eligibility, as explained by Very Well Health. This is crucial for those whose assets would otherwise disqualify them from receiving Medicaid benefits for long-term care, which is often necessary for custodial care in nursing homes or at home.

Very Well Health notes that Irrevocable Funeral Trusts and Medicaid Compliant Annuities are also used to shield assets to enable seniors to become eligible for Medicaid benefits.

The primary advantage of using an irrevocable trust in Medicaid planning lies in its ability to protect and preserve assets. Since the assets placed in the trust are no longer under the direct control of the individual, they are effectively shielded from many forms of legal recovery efforts, including those from creditors and lawsuits. This protective measure ensures that the assets can be passed on to loved ones without being depleted by external claims or excessive taxation.

Despite their benefits, irrevocable trusts are not without their drawbacks. The most significant of these is the loss of control over the assets. Once assets are placed into an irrevocable trust, the terms of the trust cannot be easily changed, nor can the grantor retrieve the assets. This lack of flexibility can pose a problem if the financial situation of the grantor changes unexpectedly. The Medicaid five-year “look-back” period also applies, meaning that any assets transferred into the trust within five years before applying for Medicaid can incur penalties, potentially affecting Medicaid eligibility.

Setting up and maintaining an irrevocable trust involves navigating complex legal and financial planning landscapes. The trust must be structured correctly to comply with Medicaid regulations and to align with personal estate planning goals. This often requires sophisticated legal and financial advice to ensure that all aspects of the trust serve the intended purpose without unintended consequences.

Key Takeaways:

  • Asset Protection: Irrevocable trusts, including MAPTs, protect assets from being counted towards Medicaid eligibility, allowing individuals to qualify while preserving wealth for beneficiaries.
  • Benefits of Irrevocable Trusts: Assets placed in an irrevocable trust are protected from creditors and lawsuits, ensuring that the beneficiary’s inheritance remains secure.
  • Disadvantages of Irrevocable Trusts: Once assets are transferred into an irrevocable trust, the grantor cannot alter the trust terms or retrieve the assets, reducing flexibility. Transferring assets into a trust less than five years before applying for Medicaid can incur penalties due to the look-back period, potentially affecting eligibility.
  • Complex Setup Requires Legal Guidance: Establishing and maintaining an irrevocable trust requires careful legal and financial planning to ensure compliance with Medicaid rules and alignment with personal goals.

If you have the goal of integrating an irrevocable living trust into Medicaid planning, work closely with your estate planning and elder law attorneys to ensure you have covered all of the complexities of this law. If you would like to learn more about Medicaid planning, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Very Well Health (Feb. 11, 2024) How Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts Work

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Managing a Big Age Gap in Estate Planning

Managing a Big Age Gap in Estate Planning

Even if it was never an issue in the past, managing a big age gap in your estate planning can present challenges. When one partner is ten or more years younger than the other, assets need to last longer, and the impact of poor planning or mistakes can be far more complex. The article in Barron’s “Big Age Gap With Your Spouse? What You Need to Know” explains several vital issues.

Examine healthcare coverage and income needs. Health insurance can become a significant issue, especially if one partner is old enough for Medicare and the other does not yet qualify. How will the couple ensure health insurance if the older partner retires and the younger depends on the older partner for healthcare? The younger partner must buy independent healthcare coverage, which can be a budget-buster.

Be strategic about Social Security. Experts advise having the older spouse delay taking Social Security benefits if they are the higher-income partner. If the older spouse passes, the younger spouse can get the bigger of the two Social Security benefits. Delaying benefits means the benefits will be higher.

Planning for RMDs—Required Minimum Distributions. Roth conversions may be a great option for couples with a significant age gap. Large traditional tax-deferred individual IRAs come with large RMDs. When one spouse dies, the surviving spouse is taxed as a single person, which means they’ll hit high tax brackets sooner. However, if the couple converted their IRAs to Roths, the surviving spouse could withdraw without taxes.

Estate planning becomes trickier with a significant age gap, especially if the spouses have been married before. Provisions in their estate plan need to be made for both the surviving spouse and children from prior marriages. An estate planning attorney should be consulted to discuss how trusts can protect the surviving spouse, so no one is disinherited. Beneficiary accounts also need to be checked for beneficiary designations.

Couples with a significant age gap need to address their own mortality. A younger partner who is financially dependent on an older partner needs to be involved in estate and finance planning, so they know what assets and debts exist. Life has a way of throwing curve balls, so both partners need to be prepared for incapacity and death.

Managing a big age gap in your estate planning really requires careful and consistent review of your planning. Plans should be reviewed more often than for couples in the same generation. A lot can happen in six months, especially if one or both partners have health issues. If you would like to learn more about estate planning issues for older couples, please visit our previous posts. 

Reference: Barron’s (May 19, 2024) “Big Age Gap With Your Spouse? What You Need to Know.”

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Understanding the differences between ABLE Account and Special Needs Trust

Understanding the differences between ABLE Account and Special Needs Trust

Planning for the financial future of a loved one with special needs is crucial. Two essential tools in special needs planning are ABLE accounts and Special Needs Trusts (SNTs). Understanding the differences between an ABLE Account and Special Needs Trust will help you make the right choice.

An Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account is a valuable tool for people with disabilities. As Special Needs Answers reports, they can use it to save up to $18,000 annually starting in 2024. Unlike other accounts, this doesn’t deprive people of means-tested benefits.

ABLE account holders can save up to $100,000 tax-free and spend the funds on disability-related expenses. This covers assistive technology, transportation, education and even leisure activities. Account administration occurs at the state level, and eligibility is set to expand. While anyone disabled before age 26 qualifies now, the threshold will increase to 46 in 2026.

Likewise, individuals can open and manage their ABLE accounts. This provides much more financial independence than a Special Needs Trust (SNT).

A Special Needs Trust (SNT) is a legal document that provisions funds for disabled loved ones. Like the ABLE account, these funds don’t impact eligibility for Medicaid or SSI. An SNT can pay for items that government benefits don’t cover, including therapy, medical care, recreation and travel.

However, there are some limits. Without affecting benefits, SNTs generally can’t be used for essentials, like food and shelter. A Special Needs Trust also can’t cover cash payments or gift cards. Unlike an ABLE account, a trustee manages the SNT. This trustee works with special needs planners to maximize the trust’s value.

One of the main differences between ABLE accounts and Special Needs Trusts is their contribution limits. ABLE accounts are capped at $18,000 annually, with a total savings limit of $100,000. SNTs have no set contribution or savings limits but have tighter controls.

An individual manages their ABLE account. In comparison, a trustee manages an SNT in the name of a disabled individual.

Another critical difference is eligibility of the disabled person. For now, ABLE accounts are only available to people who became disabled before age 26. This is in contrast to SNTs, which have no age restrictions. An SNT is ideal for long-term asset management, while ABLE accounts offer flexibility.

Consult with an elder law attorney to have a full understanding of the differences between an ABLE Account and a Special Needs Trust. Choosing between the two depends on your family’s goals and needs. If you’re looking for a quick, easy, flexible way to save for a loved one’s disability-related expenses, an ABLE account might be ideal. However, a Special Needs Trust is better for long-term planning with no savings limits.

Key Takeaways:

  • ABLE Account: Offers flexibility and direct control for disabled individuals, with a $100,000 savings limit.
  • Special Needs Trust: Offers greater flexibility and long-term security but requires a trustee for oversight.
  • Planning is a Must: An ABLE Account or SNT may better fit your situation. Either way, you should begin planning sooner rather than later to protect your loved one.
  • Plan Ahead: Work with an estate planning attorney to decide which tool is best for your family.

If you would like to learn more about special needs planning, please visit our previous posts.

References: Special Needs Answers (Nov. 13, 2023) “ABLE Accounts in 2024: Save Up to $18,000 Annually”

Special Needs Answers (February 12, 2019) “What Can a Special Needs Trust Pay For?”

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Information in our blogs is very general in nature and should not be acted upon without first consulting with an attorney. Please feel free to contact Texas Trust Law to schedule a complimentary consultation.
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