As tax season comes to a close, donors and trustees should be aware that in certain circumstances, a third-party special needs trust may be treated as a "qualified disability trust" for purposes of income taxation. Why should you care? Because a qualified disability trust is allowed to take a much higher personal exemption than a…

How can you ensure that your child will remain well cared for and secure once others assume the role of guardian or caregiver? While creating a financial plan and establishing a specialized trust are central to preparing for your child's future, special needs planners also advise families to write down their intentions and expectations in…

One of the most important decisions a special needs trust's settlor (the person who creates the trust and supplies the funds for the trust) makes is the choice of a trustee for the trust. A trustee typically manages the day-to-day operations of the trust, often making distributions to the trust's beneficiary, investing the trust's assets,…