By Ann McGee Green, Esq. This past summer, one of my client families was successful in having – for the first time in Virginia – a microboard-named guardian for their foster daughter with special needs. A microboard is a formalized "circle of support," a non-profit corporation consisting of a small group of individuals who assist [...]
By Martha C. Brown, CELA When someone is living with severe mental illness, the process of obtaining guardianship can be particularly complex. Symptoms may be intermittent, leading individuals to resist legally imposed assistance and making it difficult for a court to establish whether or not they are competent to care for themselves. The goal, of [...]
The Voice is the e-mail newsletter of The Special Needs Alliance. This installment was written by Special Needs Alliance member Hyman Darling, Esq., a partner in the Springfield, Massachusetts, firm of Bacon Wilson, P.C. Mr. Darling concentrates his practice in estate planning, elder law, probate, special needs and guardianships/conservatorships. Before joining Bacon Wilson, he was a trust officer for several years. A frequent speaker for civic and charitable organizations, he serves on the American Cancer Society National Professional Advisory Committee and the boards of several western Massachusetts nonprofit organizations for persons with disabilities. He serves on the board of directors and has served as Secretary of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).
By Shirley B. Whitenack, Esq. Regardless of the severity of an individual's cognitive impairment, that individual is presumed to be a competent adult at the age of 18. If the person will be unable to make important choices, the naming of one or more guardians should be considered. A guardian is a court appointee who [...]
Planning for the future can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. By taking the time carefully to plan now, you can ensure a smooth transition later.
This issue of The Voice® is written by SNA member Thomas Begley, CELA of Begley Law Group in Moorestown, New Jersey. His firm specializes in special needs planning, special needs trusts, guardianship, and estate planning. When a personal injury settlement is received, the first reaction for many people is, “Let’s use the money to fund [...]
For parents of children with special needs, growing older doesn’t just mean preparing for your retirement and worrying about creaky joints. Ensuring your adult child's future health, happiness, and financial well-being requires preparation, too.
This issue of The Voice® was written by SNA member Kristen M. Lewis and her colleague Emma H. Barry, both of Harrison, LLP in Atlanta, Georgia. Their firm focuses on special needs, estate and trust administration, guardianship and conservatorship and estate planning. People with disabilities were created as sexual beings, just like people without [...]
This article is provided by SNA member Elizabeth Gray, CELA or McCandlish & Lillard in Fairfax, VA. Elizabeth focuses her practice on elder law and special needs law; trust, estate and guardianship disputes; and, wills, trusts and estates. This is an overview of the fundamentals of public benefits law, particularly focusing on Social Security’s need-based [...]
SNA Supports Omitting Food from Social Security In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations Read the April 17, 2023 letter from SNA and the Alliance of Pooled Trusts supporting the SSA's proposal to omit food from in-kind and support maintenance (ISM) calculations. READ MORE SNA Special Needs Trust Improvement Act Becomes Law [...]