With many recent high school graduates preparing to go off to college, parents may begin to grow concerned about their children’s ability to take responsibility and go out on their own. Although most graduates are legal adults when they leave the house, many of them are not ready to take on the responsibilities that come with being an adult. Many students entering college will still rely on their parents for financial and emotional support and will continue to use their parents’ health care insurance for their medical needs.

Harriet P. Schleifer, Esq., of Littman Krooks will speak on financial planning for a child with special needs and preparing for life after high school at the 2nd Annual Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group (NEREG) Conference on Epilepsy on October 2. The event is free of charge and will be held at Sheraton Crossroads in Mahwah, New Jersey. The Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group offers unique services and comprehensive care to both children and adults with any type of epilepsy. In order to register for the conference, call (201) 343-6676.

While financial and estate planning are important for every family, it is even more important for families who have children with special needs. It is important to prepare for your child’s financial future to help ensure a safe, secure, and independent life ahead. To prepare properly, you should take the following steps: Investigate your child’s…

If you have a child with special needs, you should talk to extended family members who may be intending to make a gift or bequest. Extended family members may have your child’s best interests at heart, but they may be unaware that the money they leave to your child could jeopardize eligibility for government benefits.

While it’s important for the parents of a child with special needs to provide for the child’s financial well-being in their estate plan, it’s equally important to address the issue of transitioning to life with a new caregiver. That’s the purpose of a letter of intent, which is intended to assist future caregivers by describing…

Many parents think that when their child with special needs turns 18, a guardianship will immediately need to be established. While a guardianship is necessary for some children with special needs, not everyone is a candidate.

When considering how much money you will need to fund a special needs trust, you may wish to consider items that will offer your child a better quality of life. Government benefits are designed to provide basic food and shelter, but they will not offer your child any of the extras he is used to.…

A child with special needs deserves a parent’s continued stewardship and guidance, even if the parent becomes incapacitated or passes away, and the following estate planning documents are key to ensuring the child’s security. (1) A last will and testament. (2) A general durable power of attorney (“GDPA”). This document designates an agent to act…

When a couple is divorcing, it is important that they do not forget their commitments to their child with special needs. Most importantly, any child support for the child with special needs should be allocated under the separation agreement to a Special Needs Trust. This will ensure that these assets will not affect the child’s…

In order to help families deal with financial burdens, Congress is considering a change to the current tax code that would provide up to a $5,000 tax credit for legal fees associated with establishing legal guardianship. This proposed tax credit would also be available for legal fees paid in connection with establishing a trust for a person with disabilities. Only the person who actually paid for the legal fees would be eligible to apply for the tax credit.