Special Needs Planning Lawyers in Waco

Creating a Stable Future for Loved Ones

The talented Rainey & Rainey legal team has over forty years of experience dealing with estate planning, elder law, and creating special needs plans that work for individuals and their loved ones.

A proper plan for a child or other family member with a disability or special needs is vital to secure them a happy, healthy, and safe future. As a part of our legal practice here at Rainey & Rainey, using our knowledge, experience, and compassion to help our special needs clients and their families is a core part of our approach to their legal needs.Plan out the care for your special needs loved one today!

Contact the firm of Rainey & Rainey, Attorneys at Law, LP, at (254) 457-5083 and schedule your initial consultation.

Key Elements of a Special Needs Plan

At Rainey & Rainey, Attorneys at Law, LP, we understand how important it is to secure a comfortable, stable future for your loved one with special needs. Creating a comprehensive estate plan with a focus on special needs ensures your family member has continued support and access to necessary resources, even if you’re no longer there. Below are the essential components we include to help you build a strong foundation for your loved one’s future.

Building an Estate Plan with Your Support Network

Creating a special needs plan starts with establishing a supportive estate planning process, where we work closely with you, your family, and any support network involved in your loved one’s care. This approach ensures that the unique needs of your family member are met and that a support plan continues smoothly if primary caregivers are no longer able to provide direct care. A well-thought-out plan offers peace of mind, knowing that your loved one’s needs will be met in your absence.

Establishing a Special Needs or Supplemental Needs Trust

One of the cornerstones of special needs planning is creating a trust that provides financial support without risking government benefits. A special needs or supplemental needs trust safeguards assets, such as Social Security Income or Medicaid, allowing your loved one to maintain eligibility for these programs while still having access to resources for quality of life. Our experienced team can help you establish and manage trust assets to ensure they are effectively used to meet your family member’s needs while protecting their access to state and federal benefits.

Including Special Needs Provisions in the Caregiver’s Will

A comprehensive estate plan for special needs care should also involve a detailed will that outlines the responsibilities of future caregivers. This may include identifying who will step in to provide support and making clear arrangements for your loved one’s ongoing care. At Rainey & Rainey, we help families ensure that these provisions are clearly stated in a will to reduce ambiguity and help avoid disputes among family members.

Accessing Available State and Federal Benefits

Navigating the benefits landscape for individuals with special needs can be challenging, but securing these benefits is essential to meeting the long-term needs of your loved one. Our experienced team can guide you through identifying and pursuing available state and federal benefits, including Medicaid, Social Security Income, and other programs designed to support specialized care. These benefits help ease financial concerns and may cover critical services, reducing the out-of-pocket costs of care.

Why Work with Rainey & Rainey on Special Needs Planning?

Our firm is committed to guiding families through the special needs planning process. Our comprehensive estate plan includes every element necessary to create a secure and reliable support structure. We work alongside you to develop a customized plan that meets your family’s unique needs. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you secure a stable, comfortable future for your loved one with special needs.

What is a Special Needs Trust or a Supplemental Needs Trust?

A special needs trust, also known as a supplemental needs trust, is part of a properly established legal plan for an individual with special needs. A special needs trust can serve a variety of purposes:

To leave money behind for the surviving guardian of someone with special needs.
To ensure a person with special needs does not lose means-based eligibility for programs such as Medicaid or Social Security by receiving inheritance money directly.
To not leave money directly to a special needs person who cannot manage that money for themselves due to specific disabilities.

When planning how to ensure the continued support and safety of yourself or your special needs loved one, sit down with an experienced special needs attorney at Rainey & Rainey, Attorneys at Law, LP right away so that you can ensure their future needs and care are properly secured.

What Are the Different Types of Special Needs Trusts?

Third-Party Special Needs Trusts:

These types of special needs trusts are created when the assets of a parent or guardian are included in an estate plan for the express purposes of making a trust and are disseminated by a Will or Living Trust.

Self-Settled Special Needs Trusts:

These types of special needs trusts are often created using a special needs person’s assets for funding. The state requires a ‘payback’ if assets remain in the trust upon the person’s death, but only to the extent of their public assistance benefits.

How Our Firm Can Help

We work closely with clients to create tailored special needs trusts that safeguard the future of their loved ones with special needs. A special needs trust is an essential tool for providing financial security without jeopardizing eligibility for critical government benefits. Our firm guides you through each step of the process, ensuring that every detail of the trust aligns with your family’s unique requirements. Here’s what we can offer:

Customized planning solutions
Assistance preserving government benefits
Asset management guidance
Help with successor trustee selection
Future planning support

With Rainey & Rainey, you can gain peace of mind, knowing you’re providing lasting support for your loved one’s well-being.

I’m Looking to Set Up a Special Needs Trust for Myself or a Loved One; Where Can I Turn?

At Rainey & Rainey, Attorneys at Law, LP, we pride ourselves on ensuring our clients’ future by identifying and planning for their specific legal needs. With forty years of estate planning and elder law under our belt, we are more than qualified to assist in your family’s unique special needs or disability situation. Elisa Rainey is Board-Certified in Elder Law, providing clients with estate administration assistance, Medicaid qualification, and estate planning.

Call us today at (254) 457-5083 to schedule an initial consultation and get the peace of mind that proper preparation can bring you.