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Special Needs Planning

Connecticut Special Needs Trust Attorney for Families

Build a specialized plan for loved ones who may need more support, while protecting the benefits they need.

Schedule a Free Consultation
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A reputation built on trust

65+ Client Reviews

CT & NY Licensed | WealthCounsel Member

20+ Years of Experience

What Is a Special Needs Trust?

You have spent your life looking out for this person. The right plan makes sure that care continues, on your terms, long after you are able to give it yourself.

A special needs trust attorney helps you leave money and support to a loved one with a disability without putting their benefits in danger. In plain English, a special needs trust is a legal arrangement that holds assets for your loved one while keeping those assets out of their personal name.

That distinction matters more than most families realize. Programs like SSI and Medicaid are needs-based, which means a direct inheritance can accidentally push your loved one over the asset limit and disqualify them from the very support they depend on. A gift meant to help can quietly do harm.

A properly structured trust solves this. The funds stay available to improve your loved one's quality of life, covering things government benefits do not, while never counting as their own asset.

Holds assets for your loved one without counting against benefit limits

Pays for extras that improve daily life: therapies, equipment, travel, education

Keeps SSI, Medicaid, and other needs-based programs intact

Gives you peace of mind that the support you leave behind actually helps

Is This You?

Who Needs a Special Needs Planning Attorney?

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Families Caring for a Loved One

You support a child or adult with a physical, cognitive, or developmental disability, and you want to leave behind real help without risking their benefit eligibility.

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Parents Planning Ahead

You are planning for the day when you can no longer provide care yourself, and you want a structure your family can rely on without confusion or conflict.

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Future Caregivers

You have been named, or expect to be named, as the person responsible for a loved one with a disability, and you want a clear legal plan to stand on.

What Special Needs Planning Covers

No two families look the same, so the right structure depends on whose money funds the trust and what your loved one's situation calls for. Here are the main options we help Connecticut families choose between.

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Third-Party Special Needs Trusts

The most common choice for families planning ahead. This trust is funded by a parent, grandparent, or other relative, never with the beneficiary's own money.

  • Funded by a parent, grandparent, or other family member
  • Does not require payback to Medicaid when your loved one passes
  • Can be built into a will or a revocable living trust
  • Best fit for families setting things up in advance

Self-Settled Special Needs Trusts

Used when the assets belong to the person with a disability, often after a personal injury settlement or an unexpected inheritance.

  • Funded with the beneficiary's own assets
  • Common after a lawsuit settlement or direct inheritance
  • Subject to Medicaid payback provisions at death
  • Requires careful structuring to comply with federal and Connecticut law

Pooled Special Needs Trusts

Managed by a nonprofit that combines funds from many families while keeping each share separate.

  • Run by a nonprofit organization on behalf of multiple beneficiaries
  • Often practical for smaller trust amounts
  • A sensible option when professional management matters more than a large balance, but not always the right fit for larger or more complex estates

Coordinating With Your Estate Plan

A special needs trust does not stand alone. It works best as part of a complete plan.

  • Fits inside your broader will or revocable trust
  • Requires reviewing beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance, since those can bypass your trust entirely
  • Depends on naming a successor trustee your family genuinely trusts

We help you weave special needs planning into your full estate plan, alongside revocable living trusts, wills, and Medicaid asset protection through irrevocable trusts.

Schedule a free consult

A Common Mistake

What Happens If You Leave a Direct Inheritance Instead

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A Gift Meant to Help

Imagine a Connecticut mother who wants to take care of her adult son with a disability.

Her will leaves him $80,000 directly. It feels like the loving thing to do.

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The Benefits Disappear

But the moment that money lands in his name, he is over the SSI and Medicaid asset limit. His benefits stop, his health coverage and monthly support vanish, and the family scrambles to spend down the inheritance just to restore what he had before.

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Entirely Avoidable

The good news is this never had to happen. Routing that same $80,000 into a special needs trust would have protected every dollar and every benefit. The solution is straightforward once the right plan is in place, and that is exactly what we help you do.

Why Clients Work With Us

I have worked with Bryan Etter for the past four years on probate and estate planning matters, and I highly recommend him. He takes the time to thoroughly explain my options, making sure I feel confident and informed in every decision.

Robert Nichols Estate Planning Client

I have had the pleasure of working with Bryan for the past few months. He very quickly put an Estate Plan in place for my mother when we were in crisis. When she passed, he came to my home immediately, explained what comes next, and put my mind at ease.

Lisa Hammersley Estate Planning Client

Recently, I contacted Bryan Etter to consider a living trust. He was very thorough in explaining options. I felt very comfortable with his presentation. We went on to complete a trust. I'd definitely recommend him for any Estate Planning.

Charles Leigus Estate Planning Client

Inner Circle Legal Planning, PLLC exceeded my expectations in every way. Their professionalism and organization are outstanding. Bryan Etter, in particular, stands out for his knowledge, responsiveness, and genuine kindness.

Deborah Lombardi Estate Planning Client

Estate Planning is never easy, but thankfully, I came across Bryan Etter online in early Fall, who came highly recommended by his many positive reviews. Bryan immediately put my mother and I at ease during our initial consultation.

John Vairo Estate Planning Client

I feel compelled to share the wonderful experience I had working with Bryan Etter in my Estate Planning. I had thought that I only needed a will, but Bryan explained several other aspects of this process, such as needing a Health Care Proxy, etc.

Barbara Coppola Estate Planning Client

I've had the fortunate opportunity to work with Bryan and his team on multiple occasions, and each time has been better than the last. He's extremely patient, detail-oriented and always very responsive, regardless of how simple my questions may be.

Matthew Gunn Estate Planning Client

Working with Bryan was a very good experience for me. I wanted to be sure all of my affairs were in order, to make life easier for my children when the inevitable occurs. Bryan was very professional and clear about every aspect of making a trust.

Virginia Metaxas Estate Planning Client

Just recently my wife and I were looking for a law firm that handles Estate Planning and the process we would need to complete this task. We chose Bryan's team and couldn't be more satisfied with the knowledge and professionalism his team provided.

Bill Valintas Estate Planning Client

Throughout the process, Bryan patiently explained each step to me. He was always professional yet friendly, responsive, and conscientious. I'd highly recommend Bryan to anyone looking for an estate planning attorney.

Marion Coleman Estate Planning Client

A note from Bryan

How I Approach Special Needs Planning

I built Inner Circle around a simple idea: estate planning should make sense to the people living it. 

Your loved one's diagnosis, your family's needs, and your hopes for their future shape the plan. I build it around you rather than handing you a template, and you will know the cost before we begin. No surprises, no meter running, no guessing what the bill will be.

Read our estate planning FAQs to see how the pieces fit together.

Bryan Etter
Licensed in CT & NY | Member of WealthCounsel

Read Bryan's Story
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Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Trusts

What is a special needs trust and how does it work?

A special needs trust holds assets for a loved one with a disability without those assets counting as their personal property. A trustee uses the funds to pay for things that improve your loved one's life, while their needs-based benefits stay protected. It is one of the most reliable ways to provide long-term support.

Will a special needs trust affect my loved one's SSI or Medicaid?

Used correctly, no. The entire point of the trust is to keep your loved one eligible. Because the assets are held by the trust rather than owned by your loved one, they do not count toward SSI or Medicaid limits. A poorly drafted trust can fail at this, which is why proper structuring matters.

Who should be the trustee of a special needs trust?

The trustee manages the funds and makes distributions, so it should be someone responsible, organized, and trustworthy, often a family member, a professional trustee, or a combination of both. We help you weigh the options and name a successor trustee so there is always someone in place.

Can I add special needs trust provisions to my existing estate plan?

Yes. In many cases a special needs trust can be incorporated into your existing will or revocable living trust. We review your current plan, including beneficiary designations, to make sure everything works together rather than at cross purposes.

How much does it cost to set up a special needs trust in Connecticut?

We work on a flat-fee basis, so you know the cost before any work begins. The exact figure depends on the complexity of your situation and how the trust fits into your broader plan. We are happy to walk you through it during your free consultation.

Let's Protect Your Inner Circle

Plan With Confidence for the One Who Counts on You

You have spent your life making sure your loved one is cared for. A special needs trust makes sure that care continues, protected and intact, no matter what the future holds. Let's build a plan that gives you genuine peace of mind. The first conversation is free, and there is no pressure to decide anything on the spot.

Schedule a free consult
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