On March 25, 2023, Hickman Lowder Attorneys Elena A. Lidrbauch and Helen L. Rapp hosted the webinar, Estate Planning and Special Needs Trusts. They discussed general planning considerations and legal documents that are frequently used by families, including different...
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Adults With Disabilities
Alphabet Soup – An Overview of Public Benefit Programs
On March 11, 2023, Hickman Lowder Attorneys Ethan A. Welch and George O. Aljoe hosted the webinar, Alphabet Soup – An Overview of Public Benefit Programs. They discussed public benefits that may be available for your family such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI),...
Trustee School: Administering a Special Needs Trust – February 25, 2023
Hickman Lowder is dedicated to ensuring successful administration of the trusts that we draft for your family members with special needs. This includes educating your trustees so they are prepared to successfully administer the trust you have established. On February...
Your Summer Reading List: Helpful Resources From the Special Needs Alliance
This summer may be the time to answer that one nagging question that you may have or develop a deeper understanding of certain issues that affect your family. It is important for families and caregivers to understand the fundamental concepts in managing their loved...
Preparing for College for a Student with a Disability
Graduation season is nearly upon us as high school seniors across the state are making plans for their next adventure. If you have a disability and choose to go on to college, there are additional steps required, both in choosing the right university and in seeing that your needs are met. I’m talking to you, the student, not your parent.…
Your COVID-19 Practical Preparedness Plan
The COVID-19 pandemic is difficult for all of us. Economic, psychological, and most important, physical health is on the top of everyone’s mind during just about all waking hours. We must stay strong for our vulnerable and remember that with the right preparedness and planning, this too shall pass. Estate plans are vitally important to our overall preparedness and peace…
Zoned Out – A Brief History
The institutional reform movements of the 1970’s led to a significant downsizing of large facilities housing people with developmental and other disabilities. Advocates began a concerted effort to establish community-based homes, but faced numerous obstacles, most often from local communities which used zoning and building laws as a barrier to allowing development of smaller group homes. Getting a group home…
Waiver 101
If you’re in the disability-world, you’ve probably heard rumblings about waivers or the new waiver waiting list. But what exactly is a waiver and how could a waiver help your family? Here’s a quick overview. Waivers are administered through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) and county Boards of Developmental Disabilities. In order to be eligible, you must have…
Care Advocacy Services: A Case Study
Donald and Shirley engaged Hickman & Lowder to draft their estate plan with special needs considerations in the early 1990s. At that time, their daughter, Angela, who has a developmental disability, was living with them and receiving minimal benefits from the government. Donald and Shirley put a trust in place to provide for Angela after they both were gone. When…
Another State Taxing a Trust
When it comes to the everyday life of an individual who has a developmental disability, life can present unexpected obstacles not only for the individual, but for family and friends, as well. The challenges are made easier through well-planned trusts which protect important government benefits, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and ensure that when the parent passes…