Special Needs Trusts in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Area

Berwyn, Wyomissing, Scranton, Wilmington and Washington, D.C. area law firm creating solutions for individuals with disabilities

A special needs trust is a sophisticated tool for protecting access to public benefits for persons with disabilities while providing them with the financial resources to improve their quality of life. McAndrews Law Offices was founded in 1982 to deliver comprehensive, effective representation to persons with disabilities and their families in planning for their future.

Review our special needs trusts FAQs and articles written by our knowledgeable legal team to learn more about this vital instrument. Our experienced lawyers can assist you in creating a special needs trust and advise you about administering the trust without risking entitlement to Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medical Assistance (MA)/Medicaid and other federal and state benefits.

Self-funded trust for personal injury settlements, an unanticipated inheritance or other assets of the person with disabilities

If you have suffered a debilitating injury, you should consider a self-funded special needs trust as a way of preserving your eligibility for government programs after you recover damages in your personal injury lawsuit. It’s important to act before you recover compensation so you don’t risk your entitlements. Our personal injury attorneys establish a self-funded trust and arrange for your monetary award to fund your special needs trust as part of your settlement. The same principles apply for other circumstances where assets of a person with disabilities — such as an unanticipated inheritance, a Social Security back-payment or other assets — may disqualify the person for public benefits.

Third party trust for estate planning

Even a modest inheritance can jeopardize eligibility for SSI, MA/Medicaid and other payments to individuals with disabilities. Our estate planning lawyers assist you in developing a third party trust that protects your loved one and your family’s resources. Your loved one can continue to receive vital government benefits while enjoying the financial security that you have worked so hard to provide.

Learn more about special needs trusts from our Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C. area estate planning attorneys

Consult PA, DE, MD, and Washington, D.C. area special education, estate planning and disability lawyers at McAndrews Law Offices at 610.648.9300 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.

Our Estate Planning Department’s Mission

McAndrews Law Offices is committed to providing highly skilled and individualized estate planning, special needs planning, and elder law advice to guide our clients through the different stages of life. We represent individuals of all asset levels, and our goal is to give our clients peace of mind by crafting flexible, efficient, and cost-effective plans that address personal challenges, whether minimizing taxes, transferring wealth, preserving assets before entering a nursing home, or planning for the future of a child with special needs. We are on the cutting edge of constantly evolving policies and laws, and we take pride in providing prompt, responsive, and respectful service.

Our specialized areas of concentration include:

Estate Planning – Designing comprehensive estate plans for individuals of all asset levels, which may include sophisticated estate planning techniques to minimize death taxes, trusts to protect minors, or planning techniques to assist blended families or and methods to ease the probate process.

Special Needs Planning – Assisting in all stages of public benefit and special needs planning, including qualifying persons for essential public benefits, creating an estate plan to protect a loved one’s public benefits, and collaboratively determining whether a guardianship or less restrictive option may be appropriate.

Elder Law – Designing a creative and personal plan using the most up-to-date techniques to preserve wealth for future generations while protecting the elder’s dignity and well-being.

Estate Administration – Facilitating and streamlining the probate process and employing legal strategies to reduce death taxes to the maximum extent.