When parents are setting up a Special Needs Trust in Massachusetts for a child, one of the primary considerations is who will serve as trustee in the event that the parents can no longer fill this role. The trustee is the person who would be in charge of making decisions about money and property, making [...]
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Before I meet with clients, I send them questionnaire so they can gather information that will help us both be more productive in our meeting. In general, clients bring this paper work back in one of three ways: 1. Completely filled out with attachments and tabs, 2. Partially filled out (meaning they put their name [...]
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When thinking about pursuing guardianship over a family member with special needs who is unable to care for themselves, many families wonder whether they should appoint co-guardians, so that there is someone in place if something happens to one of the guardians. Here are some of the benefits to having co-guardians: Someone is available if [...]
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My Texas colleague, Pamela Parker, has written a workbook for parents to help you create a “personal instruction manual for your special needs child.” As Pamela writes, the workbook helps parents provide information about their special needs child to future caregivers and trustees. By using the charts and answering the questions in this workbook, parents [...]
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Some people get overwhelmed with the idea of getting their affairs in order and as a result find it easier to do nothing. To help people with that inertia, I'll be posting weekly Action Items – little steps that take an hour or less that will move you forward in the process and make it [...]
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Many many years ago, before I was born, a beloved young cousin in my family was sick, and dying of leukemia. Towards the end of his life, there was a sign above his bed that said "nothing by mouth," meaning he should not have anything to eat or drink as he was getting his nutrition [...]
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I often receive calls from parents who are challenged by their children’s mental health, emotional, or behavioral needs, and those children are turning 18 soon. "I need a guardianship over my son, he's turning 18." As I talk to the parents I find out that the son is in mainstream school, holds down a job [...]
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I've written before about the importance of maintaining records for your children, and especially those children who have special needs, so that if a guardian is ever needed there will be complete records available for whoever will be taking over their care. While medical records are important, equally important to include in the letter of [...]
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The following US News & World Report Article was brought to my attention by fellow attorney Steve Worrell, who posted it on his Georgia Wills Law Blog. Regardless of what state you live in, it is important to work with an attorney who can help you put a plan in place for your family which [...]
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Today's Hingham Journal reported that the Hingham Police and Fire Departments are now offering Project Lifesaver, a program that can locate a wandering child or adult. The adults or children who are at risk for wandering, either because of dementia, autism or other conditions, wear a tamper-proof bracelet which contains a tracking device. The device [...]
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