Consumer Reports: providing for disabled heirs
by Beth
In my “Adults and autism: Our kids might outlive us” post, I talked about estate planning and special needs trusts that can be set up when your child has autism. I also mentioned that MassMutual, one of Easter Seals’ national corporate partners, offers additional resources for people with disabilities and their families.
Here’s another resource to let you in on – an article on providing for disabled heirs in the August, 2007 issue of Consumer Reports Money Adviser says the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law maintains an online directory of lawyers who are qualified to set up special needs trusts in your state.
The list is intended only as a research tool; neither the ABA nor the Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law officially endorses any of the lawyers or legal service providers in this directory.
But at least it’s a start.
As I said before, I know it’s hard to add yet another item to a “to-do” list, especially when it concerns something as morbid as death! But knowing a child with autism has a special needs trust set up in advance can give parents and caregivers real peace of mind.