Special Needs Checklist

Issues to Consider...

Have you selected a guardian to care for your child – or dependent with special needs – when you are no longer able to do so, and have you executed the necessary legal documents?

Have you written a Letter of Intent to express your wishes for how your loved one with special needs will be cared for in the future?

Are you familiar with the government benefits available for your child, and are you clear about the standards that must be met for your child to qualify for these benefits?

If friends or family have included your child in their wills, are you sure the bequests will be handled in such a way that your child does not lose valuable government benefits?

Do you have a will that was specifically drafted with special considerations and provisions concerning your loved one with special needs?

If something happens to you today, are there adequate funds to care for your child for the rest of his or her life?

Have you earmarked specific funds or life insurance for your child, and is that funding properly characterized so as not to disqualify your child from government benefits?

Do your estate attorney and other professional advisors specialize in planning for families with dependents with special needs?

Has an attorney drafted a SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST to protect your child’s interests, and have you determined that adequate funding is available for the trust?

Are you certain your child will have the quality of life you want for him or her?

If you checked “no” to any of these questions, you may have gaps in your special needs planning. Harty Financial can help design, fund and implement comprehensive plans for your special needs child. Harty Financial does not provide legal advice.

Please submit these questions to us and we'll get back to you with some help and feedback.