Special Needs Trust

When it comes to people with special needs, they often require the assistance of caregivers to lead full, happy lives. However, family caregivers typically have major concerns about the future of their loved ones, particularly when they’ll no longer be around to provide care.

In this case, a special needs trust offers substantial peace of mind. Our team of kind and compassionate attorneys at Walk-In Wills can help you create a comprehensive estate plan that protects your assets and your loved ones. While we offer exemplary legal services, our clients can rest assured of an affordable, stress-free process.

What Is a Special Needs Trust?

A special needs trust places your assets into a trust after you’re gone to make certain your loved one has access to vital financial assistance. In this case, you will appoint a trustee to ensure the funds are made available to the person to cover daily living expenses, medical costs, and other essential expenses.

What Benefits Do They Offer?

People with special needs often receive disability benefits to provide a reliable income when they’re unable to work. These benefits are typically contingent on a person’s financial status, as well as the type and severity of their disability. Accordingly, a large inheritance can prevent the person from receiving benefits, which can put them in a precarious financial position.

A special needs trust ensures that the person receives essential funds from your estate without impacting their benefits. They include first-party trusts, which help people who experience disability later in life when they’ve already accrued numerous assets. There are also third-party trusts, which are managed by caregivers to ensure the person in their care can access the necessary funds after the caregiver has died.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a special needs trust and how can Walk-In Wills help me set one up?

A special needs trust is a legal tool that lets you set aside money or property for a loved one with disabilities without affecting their eligibility for public benefits like Social Security or Medicaid. At Walk-In Wills, our attorneys guide you through choosing the right type of trust and preparing it so your family’s goals are met with clear, legally effective language.

2. Why would someone use a special needs trust instead of leaving assets outright?

Leaving money or assets directly to a beneficiary with special needs can interfere with their government benefit eligibility. With a special needs trust drafted by Walk-In Wills, the funds are held and managed for their benefit without being counted against those benefit limits, giving them extra support while preserving essential coverage.

3. How does Walk-In Wills make the special needs trust process easier for families?

Our team helps you understand how these trusts work, explains the specific requirements under Arizona law, and prepares all the paperwork so it’s tailored to your family’s circumstances. That support means you don’t have to guess what language to use or worry about errors that could jeopardize the trust’s purpose.

How Can You Establish a Special Needs Trust?

The first step in developing a special needs trust is to secure reliable legal assistance. Here at Walk-In Wills, we offer clients throughout Chandler, AZ the benefit of more than 20 years of experience. With our assistance, you can rest assured that your loved one will have everything they need after you’re gone.