If you are a corporate trustee or a family member or friend serving as trustee, you should be aware of an important policy change taking effect this fall that affects beneficiaries of special needs trusts who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
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Estate Planning
Trustee School: Administering a Special Needs Trust – March 9, 2024
On March 9, 2024, Hickman Lowder held another session of our webinar, Trustee School: Administering a Special Needs Trust. It was hosted by Attorneys Ethan A. Welch, George O. Aljoe, and Helen L. Rapp. A recording of this presentation is now available for viewing at https://youtu.be/Zf4Dva_HrNM.
What is a durable power of attorney and why do I need one?
People who want an estate plan often focus on what will happen when they die, rather than protecting them while they are alive. People frequently create wills and trusts, but they may be less likely to put together advance medical directives and powers of attorney....
Estate Planning and Special Needs Trusts – March 25, 2023
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...
Revocable Trust or Irrevocable Trust: What is the Best Option for Me?
Trusts are great tools for you to pass assets to your heirs, whether that be to children, other family members, or charities. However, not all trusts are created equally. Sometimes, we use revocable trusts for one client, while another client established an irrevocable trust. When does it make sense to use a revocable trust compared to an irrevocable trust? A…
It’s About You – Special Needs Trusts
Attorney Ethan Welch spoke with Channel 3’s Joe Cronauer about special needs trusts and how you can use the funds from those trusts.
Avoiding Probate Court
Most people want to avoid probate court at death, and for good reason. Probate court takes a lot of time, attorney fees and court costs are high, and the proceedings are public record. When is probate court necessary and how can you avoid it? Probate court is necessary when there are probate assets, which means if you do not have…
Attorney Ethan Welch’s Estate Planning Article is Featured in The Morning Journal’s Senior Living Edition
Attorney Ethan Welch had his blog Should I Share My Estate Planning Information with My Family featured in the Senior Living tab for The Morning Journal’s July Edition. Ethan states “there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to sharing estate plan information, and some approaches may work better than others”.
Generational Differences Call for Differences in Estate Planning
Whether you’re in your 40’s or your 80’s, it’s never too early or late to start thinking about creating an estate plan, and different generations can have specific ideas and approaches when it comes to their estate planning. Baby Boomers, those born generally between 1946 and 1964, are often characterized as having a strong work ethic and whose identities are…
Paying For Long-Term Care
Long-term care is not just nursing home care, like many of us think. I often speak about the “Elder Care Continuum”, which describes what many of us and our loved ones will or are experiencing as we age or face health challenges. In the beginning you may have little to no real limitations, reside in your home with no cost…