Special Needs Trust Lawyer in Los Angeles

Ensure a Bright Future for Your Loved One

A special needs trust, also known as a supplemental needs trust is a way to hold assets for a disabled individual without the assets being considered their property. Many state and federal benefits – such as Medi-Cal and SSI – have asset thresholds that qualifying beneficiaries cannot exceed.

With assets safely stored in a special needs trust, the disabled individual can obtain those state and federal benefits while still having access to the assets in the trust. If you are interested in supporting a loved one through a special needs trust, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

How Does a Special Needs Trust Work?

The trust is created by a grantor and specifies who the trustee and beneficiaries are and how the assets can be used. Assets like cash, investments, real estate, and other properties are then transferred to the trust. The assets are then managed by the designated trustee. Trust assets are used to pay for medical expenses, transportation, housing, and other necessities. The trustee ensures that when using the assets, it does not jeopardize the individual with a disability's eligibility for government benefits. Because trusts do not count as assets or income, this is typically an easy task. Even after the grantor dies, the trust assets are distributed to the beneficiaries per the terms of the trust.

Choose Our Los Angeles Special Needs Trust Lawyers

The process of establishing and funding a trust is best completed with the assistance of a knowledgeable lawyer. At the Law Office of Mitchell A. Port, our special needs trust attorney in Los Angeles has extensive experience helping clients navigate issues involving trusts. Mitch Port is here to guide you down the path forward.

To learn more about special needs trusts in California and how we can help you establish one, call (310) 526-3433 or contact us online. Don't wait, contact us today for a special needs trust lawyer near you.

Types of Special Needs Trusts

A special needs trust can either be funded by a first party or third party.

What Is a First-Party Trust?

A first-party special needs trust is funded by the disabled individual’s own assets or those of their spouse. First-party trusts are subject to stricter rules and restrictions.

What Is a Third-Party Trust?

A third-party special needs trust is funded by anyone else, such as a parent or other relative.