Special Needs Planning in California

Los Angeles Special Needs Trusts Attorneys

Planning for the future of a loved one with disabilities is about more than finances; it’s about peace of mind. At Chaney Counsel, we help families across Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and Southern California create personalized plans that protect public benefits, preserve assets, and secure lifelong care.

As experienced California special needs planning attorneys, we combine legal precision with lived understanding to help families build support systems that honor their values and safeguard their loved one’s independence and dignity.

Why Special Needs Planning Matters

Families of children or adults with disabilities face unique challenges when preparing for the future. Even well-intentioned gifts or inheritances can unintentionally disrupt essential benefits such as SSI and Medi-Cal, leaving vulnerable individuals without critical services.

Thoughtful planning prevents these disruptions. A strong special needs plan:

• Maintains eligibility for benefits
• Preserves assets for long-term care
• Enhances quality of life
• Supports independence and meaningful opportunities
• Provides stability and peace of mind for the entire family

Our goal is to help families be proactive, not reactive, so your loved one’s needs are met now and for years to come.

Special Needs Trusts: Protecting Benefits and Enhancing Quality of Life

A Special Needs Trust (SNT) is often the cornerstone of a well-designed plan. As Los Angeles special needs estate planning lawyers, we help families create trusts that preserve eligibility for Medi-Cal and SSI while enhancing the beneficiary’s quality of life.

We assist with all types of Special Needs Trusts:

Third-Party Special Needs Trusts

Created with a parent’s or family member’s assets. These trusts supplement care, do not affect benefits, and typically do not require reimbursement to the state.

First-Party Special Needs Trusts

Funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, such as settlements, inheritances, or savings, and must comply with specific federal and state requirements, including Medi-Cal payback provisions.

Pooled Trusts

Managed by nonprofit organizations, this is ideal for families who prefer professional administration or need a cost-effective alternative.

We ensure each trust is properly drafted, funded, and coordinated with your broader estate plan. We also provide guidance to trustees, enabling them to administer the trust correctly, avoid disruptions to benefits, and make decisions that support the beneficiary’s long-term well-being.

Letters of Intent: Preserving Personal Knowledge

A Letter of Intent is not a legal document, but it can be one of the most meaningful parts of a family’s plan. It captures your loved one’s routines, preferences, medical history, communication styles, and values, information that no legal document can convey.

We help families throughout Los Angeles and Ventura Counties create Letters of Intent that complement their Special Needs Trust and estate plan, ensuring continuity, clarity, and personal insight for future caregivers.

Coordinating Benefits: Medi-Cal, SSI, & ABLE Accounts

Understanding how benefits work together is essential for protecting eligibility. We help families navigate:

• Medi-Cal
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• California ABLE Accounts

ABLE accounts allow individuals with disabilities to save for qualified expenses, such as housing, education, or transportation, without jeopardizing benefits. We help integrate ABLE accounts into your overall strategy for added flexibility and financial security.

Benefit rules change frequently. Working with an experienced special needs planning attorney ensures your plan stays compliant and up to date.

Integrating Special Needs Planning with Estate Planning

A plan is strongest when all components work together. We align your:

• Wills
• Revocable Living Trusts
• Durable Powers of Attorney
• Health Care Directives
• Beneficiary designations

So everything flows properly into the Special Needs Trust, not directly to the beneficiary.

We also help families plan for:

• Guardianship
• Successor trustees
• Long-term care decisions
• Smooth transitions during unexpected events

If you need a Los Angeles special needs estate planning lawyer who can coordinate your trust, benefit strategy, and estate plan, Chaney Counsel provides a comprehensive framework that keeps every piece working together.

Conservatorships and Supported Decision-Making

When a child with disabilities turns 18, families often face decisions about legal authority for managing healthcare, education, and finances.

We help parents evaluate:

• Limited or general conservatorship
• Supported decision-making
• Durable powers of attorney
• Advance health care directives
• Less-restrictive alternatives

Our goal is to help you choose the option that protects your loved one’s rights while ensuring their safety and support.

Collaborative Planning for the Whole Family

Successful planning is collaborative. We work closely with:

• Financial planners
• Care coordinators
• Therapists
• Professional fiduciaries
• Trustees and guardians

to ensure every aspect of your loved one’s support—legal, financial, and personal—works seamlessly together.

We also help families communicate their plans clearly, reducing confusion and preventing future conflict.

Why Legal Guidance Matters

Special needs planning is both emotionally sensitive and legally complex. Even minor errors can unintentionally jeopardize eligibility, disrupt services, or result in costly mistakes.

Working with an experienced California special needs planning attorney ensures your plan is:

• Legally compliant
• Carefully coordinated
• Practical and easy to follow
• Customized to your family’s values and goals

Lindsey Chaney brings professional experience and lived understanding as a parent of a child with disabilities. She approaches each family’s situation with clarity, compassion, and genuine care.

Our mission is simple: to create a plan that works in real life, not just on paper.

Schedule a Consultation

If you’re ready to protect your loved one’s future, connect with a Los Angeles Special Needs Trusts Attorney who understands both the law and the emotional journey behind it.

At Chaney Counsel, we’ll design a customized plan that protects benefits, honors your family’s values, and provides lifelong peace of mind.

Serving families across Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and surrounding Southern California communities.