Special Needs
In addition to being a member of the Special Needs Alliance, we are proud to announce that Scott C. Suzuki has been accepted to be on the National Board of Directors for Family Voices. Family Voices aims to achieve family-centered care for all children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities. Through their national network, they provide families tools to make informed decisions, advocate for improved public and private policies, build partnerships among professionals and families, and serve as a trusted resource on health care.
Scott C. Suzuki is a proud member of the Special Needs Alliance.
Special Needs Alliance attorneys can determine availability of state and federal benefits, protect public benefits eligibility, establish Special Needs Trusts, and manage Trust benefits. Our services and assistance include:
- Drafting Special Needs Trusts
- Drafting Special Needs Wills
- Estate Planning
- Financial Planning & Legal Assistance for disabled persons
- Living Trusts
- Conservatorship
- Guardianship
- Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Settlements
- Preparation of Trust Accountings
- Structured Settlement Negotiations
- Trust Distributions
If you have a family member with special needs, we can help.
Providing for Quality of Life
If a person with a disability receives money from a lawsuit, insurance payment, inheritance, gift, etc., the person could lose government benefits. You can provide for an individual's quality of life by establishing a special type of trust to benefit the individual.
What is a Special Needs Trust and Supplemental Needs Trust?
A Special Needs Trust is a general term used for all Trusts designed to protect an individual's government assistance. Specifically, these are "First Party" Trusts and must be an Irrevocable Trust that is designed to pay back the government. A Supplemental Needs Trust are "Third Party" Trusts and the assets are not owned by the disabled individual. Therefore, assets in these types of Trusts will not disqualify an individual from government assistance and will not need to be used to pay back the government. The goal of creating these types of Trusts are to provide for "quality of life" of a disabled individual while maintaining eligibility for government assistance programs such as Medicaid and SSI.
What is the Special Needs Alliance (SNA)?
The Special Needs Alliance (SNA) is a national, not for profit organization of attorneys dedicated to the practice of disability and public benefits law. Individuals with disabilities, their families and their advisers rely on the SNA to connect them with nearby attorneys who focus their practices in the disability law arena.
Estate Planning for the Family
- Drafting Wills/Trusts tailored for special needs
- Representation in Probate Court
- Obtaining Guardianship/Conservatorship where appropriate
Public Benefits
- Explaining Special Needs Trusts and counseling Trustees on Trust distributions
- Determining what public benefits are available to clients to help enhance their lives
- Explain to clients and family the operation of Special Needs Trust and what expenses of the disabled person which may be paid from the Special Needs Trust
*Information contained on our website is a simplified discussion of general legal issues and is not intended as legal advice.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Providing for Quality of Life
If a person with a disability receives money from a lawsuit, insurance payment, inheritance, gift, etc., the person could lose government benefits. You can provide for an individual's quality of life by establishing a special type of trust to benefit the individual.
What is a Special Needs Trust and Supplemental Needs Trust?
A Special Needs Trust is a general term used for all Trusts designed to protect an individual's government assistance. Specifically, these are "First Party" Trusts and must be an Irrevocable Trust that is designed to pay back the government. A Supplemental Needs Trust are "Third Party" Trusts and the assets are not owned by the disabled individual. Therefore, assets in these types of Trusts will not disqualify an individual from government assistance and will not need to be used to pay back the government. The goal of creating these types of Trusts are to provide for "quality of life" of a disabled individual while maintaining eligibility for government assistance programs such as Medicaid and SSI.
What is the Special Needs Alliance (SNA)?
The Special Needs Alliance (SNA) is a national, not for profit organization of attorneys dedicated to the practice of disability and public benefits law. Individuals with disabilities, their families and their advisers rely on the SNA to connect them with nearby attorneys who focus their practices in the disability law arena.
The SNA is an invitation-only organization. SNA membership is based on a combination of relevant legal experience in the disability and elder law fields, direct family experience with disability, active participation with national, state and local disability advocacy organizations, and professional reputation.