Special Needs Trusts: Protect Your Child's Financial Future [Paperback]

Stephen Elias Attorney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1413306306 | ISBN-13: 978-1413306309 | Publication Date: May 11, 2007 | Edition: 2nd

The forms and information you need for peace of mind... If you care for a child or other loved one with a disability, you've no doubt thought about what will happen when you're no longer able to give that care. Fortunately, there's a simple solution to this dilemma -- create a "special needs trust". Special Needs Trusts shows you how to leave any amount of money to your disabled loved one, without jeopardizing government benefits. It provides plain-English information and forms that let you create a special needs trust by modifying your will or living trust document. Funds in a special needs trust can make a big difference in quality of life by paying for annual independent check-ups, personal care attendant or escort, vehicles and transportation, insurance, rehabilitation, essential dietary needs, materials for recreation, trips or vacations, entertainment, athletic training or competitions and much more! Special Needs Trusts also provides a formal letter to the trustee, which explains this very important role, and a personal letter to the trustee, which provides information about your loved one. It includes the forms you need as tear-outs and on CD-ROM.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Does a good job of explaining what a special needs trust can do to protect the benefits of a person with disabilities.... Even if after reading the book you feel you need a lawyer, you will have the knowledge to approach the subject." -- Support for Families of Children With Disabilities Newsletter

About the Author

Stephen R. Elias is an attorney and former associate publisher at Nolo, as well as current President of the National Bankruptcy Law Project. He is the author of many Nolo books, including recently The New Bankruptcy. Other titles include Special Needs Trusts and How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. He is also one of the original authors/designers of Nolo's bestselling WillMaker software. Steve holds a law degree from Hastings College of Law and was a practicing attorney in California, New York and Vermont before joining Nolo. He has been featured in such major media as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Good Morning America, 20/20, Money magazine, and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: NOLO; 2nd edition (May 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1413306306
• ISBN-13: 978-1413306309
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,415,023 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen R. Elias is an attorney and former associate publisher at Nolo, as well as the current President of National Bankruptcy Law Project. He is the author of many Nolo books, most recently Bankruptcy for Small Business Owners. Other titles include Special Needs Trusts: Protect Your Child's Financial Future, How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, and Legal Research: How to Find and Understand the Law. He is also one of the original authors of Nolo's bestselling WillMaker software. Steve holds a law degree from Hastings College of Law and practiced law in California, New York, and Vermont before joining Nolo in 1980. He has been featured in such major media as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Good Morning America, 20/20, Money magazine, and more. Steve's blog on bankruptcy and foreclosure law can be found at Nolo's Bankruptcy & Foreclosure Blog.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable Reference for Planning a Special Needs Trust, December 29, 2007

By 

Mark Albert (Herndon, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Special Needs Trusts: Protect Your Child's Financial Future (Paperback)

This book is designed to help readers set up their own special needs trust without an attorney--and you could do that with the resources provided, but I expect most readers will prefer to use a professional to establish an estate plan with the special needs trust as an important element. Whether or not you plan to use an attorney, however, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone considering a special needs trust.

I have attended seminars on Special Needs Trusts, and my wife and I have had an initial meeting with an attorney to set up a trust for our disabled daughter. As a result, I came to this book with a well-developed idea of what could be accomplished with Special Needs Trust. Still, I learned a great deal from this book. There were several issues related to handling of assets within the trust and the management of housing expenses that became much clearer to me after reading this book.

Reading this book helped form important questions that we will be exploring with our attorney, and helps us understand in greater depth what she will be doing for us. In this way, this book is helping us maximize the value we get from our attorney's services.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource book, easy to read, March 27, 2010

By 

Clara C. Hickey (Bensenville, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Special Needs Trusts: Protect Your Child's Financial Future (Special Needs Trust: Protect Your Childs Financial Future (W/CD)) (Paperback)

I set up a Special Needs Trust for my son a couple of years ago; it was not a satisfying experience. The lawyer did not explain the process well, and I was left frustrated and poorer.

If I had first read this book that I easily found and purchased at Amazon.com, I would have walked into the lawyer's office with confidence that at least I would have known all the basics in setting up the Trust and the questions to ask. As it was, I didn't know what I didn't know, and that was a distinct disadvantage.

I would recommend this book for anyone thinking of setting up such a Trust. Read it first before contacting a lawyer.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect !, February 21, 2008

By 

Rich Words (Gresham, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Special Needs Trusts: Protect Your Child's Financial Future (Paperback)

Nolo's Special Needs Trusts book is precise, concise, and very informative. Well organized, it reads fast and easilly. It's very practical too. We are using and depending on it's content. I even corrected the overseer of our trust. Perfect!
Rich