Parents of a child with special needs are going to have to take additional estate planning steps in most circumstances, and a Glastonbury special needs attorney can help. If you child has a disability, you want to ensure that your son or daughter is always going to be cared for – especially if the condition is a serious one that could prevent your child from living independently. You need to plan for what could happen to your son or daughter if something happens to you and you are no longer able to provide physical care or financial support. 
Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates can help you. A Glastonbury special needs attorney at our firm can guide you through the steps to take to protect your child and can assist you in making appropriate plans for your son or daughter based on the type of needs that your child has and the level of impairment that your child is experiencing due to his or her disability.
You should give us a call as soon as possible if your child has special needs so you can get an appropriate plan in place now. You never know when something could happen that leaves you unable to care for your child in the way you would prefer, so it is best to have a plan in place for your child’s safety and security and for your peace of mind. Our legal team can help you to do everything necessary to make appropriate provisions for your child, including taking the following key steps that parents of special needs children often must take.
Purchasing Life Insurance
Most parents should have life insurance to make certain their child’s financial needs are met even if something happens to the parent. If your child has a disability, the care that your child needs could be costly so it could be even more important to put plans in place to provide for your son or daughter. A life insurance policy could provide enough money to meet your child’s needs for the rest of his or her life once you are no longer there to provide financial support.
Making a Plan for You Child’s Financial Support
Whether you buy a life insurance policy to provide for your child or leave your child a large inheritance or both, you need to ensure that the money is appropriately managed and that a financial gift you give to your child doesn’t result in disqualification from means-tested benefits like Medicaid. By working with a Glastonbury special needs attorney to create a special needs trust, or supplementary needs trust as it is also called, you can ensure that there is a trusted person to manage your child’s money. You can also make certain that the assets you provide to your child don’t count as resources that cause disqualification from Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income and related benefits.
Making a Plan for Your Child’s Physical Care
If your child cannot care for himself or live independently, you need to make plans for where your child will live and who will provide care when you have passed away or become incapacitated. If your child is going to be living in a group home or any kind of institutional environment, you should work with an attorney to research the reputation of care facilities and to make a plan to ensure that costs are covered either by Medicaid or by some other source of funds you provide or that your child is eligible for. If your child is going to live in an institutional facility, you should also be sure to name an appropriate guardian to make decisions on your child’s behalf and watch out for his or her well-being.
Getting Help from A Glastonbury Special Needs Attorney
A Glastonbury special needs attorney at Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates can provide help with these three steps, and with any additional steps that you may need to take in order to ensure that your child with a disability is provided for and kept safe even if something happens to you. Our legal team will work closely with you to understand your child’s needs and your family’s needs and to put the right plan in place to meet those needs. To find out more about the assistance that we can offer you, join us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call at 860-548-1000 or contact us online today for personalized one-on-one advice.
Mr. Nirenstein is licensed to practice before the courts of the State of Connecticut and the United States District Court. He is a member of the Connecticut and Hartford County Bar Associations, and the Estate and Probate, Elder Law, Business Law and Real Estate Sections of the Connecticut Bar Association.
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