Special Needs
Estate Planning
If you have a child or loved one with a disability, estate planning isn’t just about passing on assets—it’s about ensuring care, dignity, and support for the rest of their life.
Special needs estate planning gives you the tools to protect benefits, preserve resources, and make sure someone you trust is there to manage things if you’re no longer able to.
At Lambros Law Office, we help families in Rhode Island and Massachusetts create thoughtful, effective plans for loved ones with disabilities. Whether you’re starting from scratch or need to update a plan, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Why Special Needs Planning Is So Important
Government benefit programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid have strict income and asset limits. Leaving money directly to a loved one with special needs—even with the best intentions—can unintentionally disqualify them from the services and care they depend on.
With the right planning, you can leave assets that improve their quality of life while protecting their eligibility for critical support.
Understanding Trust Options
The cornerstone of most special needs estate plans is a trust—a legal structure that holds and manages assets on behalf of a person with a disability.
Support Trusts
A support trust directs the trustee to use trust assets for the beneficiary’s basic needs, like housing, food, clothing, education, and medical care. While well-meaning, this type of trust can cause the beneficiary to lose eligibility for means-tested public benefits like SSI and Medicaid, because the funds are considered available to them.
Asset Management and Debt Resolution
Locate, inventory, and protect estate assets. Settle valid debts, taxes, and expenses to ensure the estate is handled responsibly.
What Sets Our Service Apart
Special needs planning is not a one-size-fits-all process. It’s about more than preparing a set of legal documents. It’s about truly understanding your family’s values, your child’s abilities and challenges, and the public programs that play a role in their long-term care. At Lambros Law Office, we take the time to listen, educate, and support you through every step of the journey.
Here’s how we make the difference:
A Personal Approach to Complex Planning: Every family’s situation is unique. We don’t use templates or generic forms—we take the time to understand your goals and tailor your plan accordingly. Whether you’re planning for a child with autism, Down syndrome, a physical disability, or a mental health diagnosis, we account for the specific support systems and resources they may need now and in the future.
Clear Communication and Compassionate Guidance: Legal planning can feel overwhelming, especially when layered with caregiving responsibilities. We break down your options in plain language, answer your questions thoroughly, and give you the space to make informed, thoughtful decisions. You’ll never feel rushed or confused.
Deep Knowledge of Public Benefits and Eligibility: We understand the eligibility requirements for SSI, Medicaid, and other government benefit programs in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Our plans are designed to preserve access to these vital services while enhancing your loved one’s quality of life through supplemental support.
Frequently asked questions
No. A properly drafted Special Needs Trust preserves eligibility for needs-based programs in both states. It’s critical that the trust gives the trustee full discretion and follows federal and state rules.
Trust funds can be used for anything that enhances the beneficiary’s quality of life—like therapy, classes, adaptive equipment, transportation, vacations, hobbies, or companion care.
Yes. A Third-Party Special Needs Trust can accept contributions from family members. It’s important to coordinate so assets aren’t left directly to the child.
Not necessarily. A trust manages finances, while guardianship addresses personal or medical decisions. We can help you determine what your child needs.
If the trust is a Third-Party SNT, remaining funds can go to other family members. If it’s a Self-Settled SNT, the state may claim reimbursement for Medicaid expenses.
Both follow federal rules, but their Medicaid programs differ in services and administration. We customize your plan to the requirements in your state.
I decided I wanted to make an impact in people’s lives, so I decided to practice estate planning law. Very important decisions have to be made by individuals during their lifetime to be proactive, to make decisions regarding their long-term care planning, their end of life decisions, where are they gonna leave their assets? How are they gonna leave their assets? So I felt estate planning really gave me the best opportunity to make that important difference in clients’ lives. Estate planning is more than just giving a client a stack of documents. We want to have an ongoing relationship with them so they feel comfortable calling us down the road. So building a strong relationship with our client is really crucial to what we do here. Our goal is to give our clients the peace of mind that they’ve made the right decisions, that they’ve been proactive in their planning.
Let's get started
If you’re caring for a child or loved one with a disability, you already know how much there is to manage. A thoughtful estate plan can lift some of that burden and provide long-term security for your family—even when you’re no longer here to advocate.
We’re here to help you make those decisions with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
