BART STEVENS SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING...
 Welcome
to Bart Stevens Special Needs Planning website. The
purpose of Bart Stevens Special Needs Planning is to educate and
provide future planning options, products, and services for
families, friends, organizations, and professionals responsible for, or
know, a person with a developmental disability.
 Regardless
of the type of disability, we are here to help you eliminate the
overwhelming and confusing obstacles of Special Needs Planning.
Lifestyle Preferences, Legal Issues, Special Needs Trust Funds,
and access to Government Benefits should all be considered
during the planning process. We know that this can be a daunting
task, but we are here to help you. Please
contact us for complete information about special needs
planning.
The Need to Plan for Today and Tomorrow
 Proper
planning speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves. If
there is no information for the care of the person with special
needs or the proper documents are not prepared those who take
over the care of your son, daughter or other loved one are going
to have a difficult time trying to figure things out.
Special Needs Planning is a greater necessity today than ever
before. Advances in medical and social treatment for people with
developmental disabilities have increased their life expectancy.
Greater longevity for the person with special needs creates a
greater need for parents or caregivers to do proper planning
that incorporates daily routines and needs as well as special
needs trusts for future financial needs.
Special Needs Planning plays an
important role in the daily living of the person with special
needs, as well as planning for when the primary care providers
are no longer able to care for them. You would not go out for an
evening without making sure that whoever is caring for your
loved one with special needs knows what to do, how to do it, and
how to reach you in an emergency. What would happen today if you
were unable to provide care for an extended period of time or
permanently? We have the answers to your questions. Please
contact us today so we can help you protect your loved ones.
What Will Happen If You Do Not
Plan
  No
Wills - No Special Needs Trust - No Letter of Intent
No Government Benefit Planning - No Budgeting
The Good News - The government has a plan for you.
The Bad News - The government has a plan for
you.
- Your children will have Guardians, Trustees, and
Conservators appointed by the State in which they live.
- Your estate will be distributed according to the wishes
of the State, not yours.
- If any assets that are received in the name of the
person with special needs exceeds $2000, they will be
ineligible for SSI (Social Security Insurance) cash benefits
and Medicaid.
- Assets received in the name of the person with special
needs are subject to immediate repayment to Medicaid for
healthcare benefits previously received.
- Medicare may be the only healthcare benefit the person
with special needs receives which does not offer the same
benefits as Medicaid.
- Assets left to others to care for the person with
special needs could be lost to creditors, litigation,
divorce or their death. There is no guaranteed security or
protection.
- Support provided by others for the person with special
needs could be considered income and/or assets reducing or
terminating SSI and Medicaid.
- Not all assets pass through a Will. If you fail to make
the necessary beneficiary changes and designations, your
life insurance, retirement plans, and annuities could pass
directly to your person with special needs in his or her
name resulting in termination and payback for government
benefits.
- Without written information explaining the day-to-day
care needs of the person with special needs and what your
goals and wishes for their future care are, providers will
only be able to do what they think you want not necessarily
what should be done.
Key
Points of Special Needs Planning
- Special Needs Planning - start as soon as possible to
avoid important decisions being made for the individual with
disabilities by government agencies, the state, and the
courts.
- Lifestyle preferences, legal issues, financial security,
and access to government benefits should all be considered
during the planning process.
- A Special Needs Trust, prepared by a professional with
experience in estate and future needs planning for persons
with disabilities, can preserve government benefits and
avoid the loss of assets intended for the person with
disabilities.
- A Letter of Intent creates a record of critical
information about the day-to-day care needs, abilities,
diet, activities, rights, and medical care for the person
with a disability.
- Upon attaining age 18, individuals with disabilities are
emancipated adults under the law. Which leaves the parents
or primary caregivers without any authority to act on the
person's behalf. Understanding your legal options pertaining
to guardianship and conservatorship are an important part of
planning.
- A Guardian is a legally appointed person responsible for
the care and decisions made on behalf of a person deemed
unable to manage certain necessary functions for themselves.
A Conservator manages the person's financial affairs. A
Trustee manages the trust established for the individual.
The same person can serve in one or all capacities.
- Starting Special Needs Planning early enables the family
to build the Special Needs Trust fund and make plans that
will serve the individual with disabilities well for years
to come.
Don't be afraid of
planning... be afraid if you don't!
The future guardianship of your
child with special needs is a planning issue to discuss now. The
law provides for all people who reach age 18 to be considered an
adult. This means parents no longer have legal authority on
behalf of their child, even though they may have special needs.
This can be remedied with the proper planning. Parents need to
know their legal options for continuing to provide the
appropriate care and supervision for their child. However, if
family members do not make provisions for the supervision, care
and security of the person with special needs the courts will
make important decisions regarding guardianship, trustees, and
the distribution of assets.
Contact
Us Today to find out how we can help you with your
Special Needs Planning
 We do not market or sell financial products; we collaborate with
professionals to bring the best of planning to families and
their loved ones with special needs. Many professionals in the
legal, accounting and investment communities consider Mr.
Stevens as the leading authority in the Special Needs Planning
arena.
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