This comprehensive handbook guides attorneys through the numerous issues involved in planning for individuals with special needs and in establishing special-needs trusts. The handbook takes the attorney through the process of working with special-needs trusts with chapters detailing the initial client meeting and needs assessment through trust management. A wide variety of trusts are discussed with individual chapters on self-settled OBRA trusts, third-party trusts, general living trusts, guardianships, and powers of attorney. Information is also provided for assisting individuals who are disabled such as day program and residential placement options and home designs. Complicated topics including social security, Medicare, Medicaid, and tax issues are discussed in great detail. The handbook is also full of samples such as a Will with Special-Needs Trust Conversion Provisions, Designation of Guardian for Minor, Petition for Guardians’ Fees, Special-Needs Letter of Intent, and Right To Amend or Revoke Trust.
General Editor
Cary R. Rosenthal, Rosenthal & Associates PC, Chicago
Chapter 1 — Initial Client Meeting and Needs Assessment
Brian N. Rubin, Rubin Law, A Professional Corporation, Buffalo Grove
Chapter 2 — Day Program and Residential Placement Options and Related Funding Issues
Shay Jacobson, Lauren Sherman, and Patricia Cline, Lifecare Innovations and Lifecare Guardianship, Arosa Companies, Burr Ridge
Chapter 3 — Home Design and Adaptations for Use for a Person with Special Needs
Patricia Cline and Shay Jacobson, Lifecare Innovations and Lifecare Guardianship, Arosa Companies, Burr Ridge
Chapter 4 — Drafting Self-Settled OBRA Trusts
Janna S. Dutton and Kathryn Casey, Dutton Casey & Mesoloras PC, Chicago
Chapter 5 — Drafting Third-Party Special Needs Trusts
Bhavik R. Patel and Joshua Hutkins, Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C., St. Louis, Bryan J. Schrempf, Schrempf, Kelly & Napp. Ltd, Alton
Chapter 6 — Social Security and Medicare: An Overview
Linda M. Strohschein, Strohschein Law Group, LLC, St. Charles
Chapter 7 — Medicaid Issues
Helen Mesoloras, Dutton Casey & Mesoloras PC, Chicago
Chapter 8 — Tax Issues Relating to Special-Needs Trusts
Benjamin A. Rubin, Rubin Law, A Professional Corporation, Buffalo Grove
Chapter 9 — Disability Provisions in General (Non-SNT) Living Trusts
Lorraine K. Cavataio, Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C., St. Louis, and Bryan J. Schrempf, Schrempf, Kelly & Napp. Ltd, Alton
Chapter 10 — Special Powers in POAs Relating to Special-Needs Issues
Michael H. Erde, Michael H. Erde, P.C., Chicago
Chapter 11 — Planning for Beneficiaries Who May Become Disabled
Heidi E. Dodd, Harter, Larson & Dodd LLC, O’Fallon, and Heather E. Voorn, Delaney Delaney & Voorn, Ltd., Orland Park
Chapter 12 — POAs & Trusts as Alternative to Guardianship
Cary R. Rosenthal, Rosenthal & Associates PC, Chicago
Chapter 13 — Guardianship
Reviewed by IICLE staff
Chapter 14 — Protection of the Caregiver
Cary R. Rosenthal, Rosenthal & Associates PC, Chicago
Chapter 15 — Caregiver Succession Planning
Cary R. Rosenthal, Rosenthal & Associates PC, Chicago
Chapter 16 — Special-Needs Issues in Personal-Injury and Wrongful-Death Awards or Settlements
Ben A. Neiburger and Dirk J. Bromberek, Generation Law Ltd., Elmhurst
Chapter 17 — Trust Management
Theresa Medeiros Varnet and Nancy Spain, Spain, Spain and Varnet P.C., Chicago
