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Life Planning Institute
of New Jersey, LLC

"Lifetime Planning For People With Disabilities And Their Families"

Where are you Today?
Purpose of a Life Plan
Services
Future Care Plan
Assessment Planning
Family Financial Plan
Family Legal Plan
Legal Planning Checklist
10 Steps to Life Planning
Life Planning Checklist
Glossary of Legal Terms
Workshops & Seminars
LPI Newsletter
Become a Planner
Contact Us
Discussion Group
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LEGAL PLANNING CHECKLIST

Many of the concepts outlined in the Life Plan reflect current laws governing last Wills and Testaments and Special Needs Trusts.  Because laws may change over the years, parents should review their Life Plan with LIFE PLANNING INSTITUTE and an attorney who specializes in special needs law at least once a year to make sure that it will still function as planned or to make necessary modifications.

The completed program should be reviewed with all Trustees, Successor Trustees and proposed Guardians at your earliest convenience.  Copies of the will and Trusts should be given to your Executor and Successor Trustees.  Place copies of all the necessary documents in the appropriate sections of the binder as soon as possible.  Please keep the binder with the originals in a safe place.
Establish the appropriate Special Needs Last Wills and Testaments and Special Needs Trusts with a qualified attorney.

After creating the trust, go to a financial institution to open a trust checking or savings account.  You will need the following items:

  1. An original Trust Agreement with one copy to leave with the financial institution if they require a copy.

  2. EIN/IRS Trust Numbers.

  3. Proper identification, e.f., driver's license.

  4. Sufficient funds to open the account.

A Special Needs Trust is a living trust, so use it on a regular basis.  The trust should fund all supplementaty purchases for the special needs child.  Do not commingle the Special Neeeds Person's SSI/SSA checks in the trust account.  However, if you charge rent, which you use to supplement your child's needs, you can place it in the trust.

It is essential that you remove the special person as a beneficiary on all existing financial programs, e.g., employer-sponsored retirement plans, personal IRA's, KEOGH's, life insurance policies.  You must list the trust as the beneficiary.

If you ever have any questions concerning this plan, please feel free to contact your Life Planner.  Direct legal questions to the attorney that prepared the Wills and Trusts.
 
                                                        
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Copyright © 1999 Life Planning Institute of New Jersey, LLC
Last modified: July 24, 1999