Special Needs Planning

Planning for Loved Ones With Disabilities

Planning for a loved one with disabilities means more than just passing down assets. You need thoughtful steps to preserve public benefits, provide long-term financial security, and make sure your loved one receives care and support for years to come.

How We Help

At Chaney Counsel, we help families in Los Angeles and Ventura County create special needs plans. We focus on protecting what matters most. Our “Planning with Heart” approach means we guide you with compassion, clarity, and practical legal solutions tailored to your situation.

Protecting Your Loved One’s Future

Many people with disabilities rely on public benefits like SSI and Medi-Cal to cover living and medical expenses. Leaving money or assets directly to your loved one could put these benefits at risk.

Special needs planning lets you build a financial safety net without risking access to vital support services. Our goal is to help you plan with confidence, knowing your loved one will be cared for well into the future.

Third-Party Supplemental Needs Trusts

A Third-Party Supplemental Needs Trust (also called a Special Needs Trust) holds assets for a person with disabilities. This trust lets them keep important government benefits.

Family members—like parents, grandparents, or siblings—usually create and fund these trusts with their own assets, not the beneficiary’s.

A properly drafted Third-Party Supplemental Needs Trust may:

• Help preserve eligibility for SSI and Medi-Cal
• Provide financial support without giving assets directly to the beneficiary
• Allow funds to be used for supplemental expenses that improve the quality of life
• Protect inherited assets for long-term care and future needs
• Provide structure and guidance for future trustees and caregivers

Trust funds often pay for things like education, therapies, caregiving, transportation, recreation, technology, and personal items—costs that public benefits won’t cover.

Personalized Planning for Your Family

Every family and every person with disabilities has unique needs. We take time to understand your goals, concerns, and vision. Then we build a plan tailored to your situation.

Special needs planning often involves coordinating multiple pieces of a broader estate plan, including:

• Revocable Living Trusts
• Wills and inheritance planning
• Trustee selection and succession planning
• Letters of Intent for future caregivers
• ABLE account coordination
• Beneficiary designation planning
• Long-term care and support decisions

We make the planning process approachable and empowering. Our goal is to help your family make confident, informed choices.

Guidance for Parents and Caregivers

Many parents and caregivers wonder, “What happens when I’m gone?” Special needs planning helps you answer that question in advance. With the right plan, you can provide stability, protection, and continued care for your loved one.

At Chaney Counsel, we know these conversations can feel overwhelming. We offer compassionate guidance to help families create plans that reflect their values and hopes for the future.

Serving Families in Southern California

Chaney Counsel serves families in Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and nearby communities. We offer virtual and in-person meetings to fit your busy schedule and caregiving needs.

Our mission is to help you protect your loved one with thoughtful planning, compassionate guidance, and trusted legal support.

Schedule a Consultation

Ready to create a special needs plan that fits your family? Contact us today to get started. and long-term goals, contact us today to schedule a consultation.