Special Needs Planning

The Risk Every Special Needs Family Needs to Understand

If your child receives Medicaid or SSI benefits, an inheritance — even a well-intentioned one — can disqualify them from the programs they depend on. A gift, a life insurance payout, or assets left directly through a will can all count as resources under federal eligibility rules, triggering a loss of benefits that may take years to restore.


The solution isn't to leave your child out of your plan. It's to structure the plan correctly from the start.

Planning at Every Stage of Your Child's Life

Special needs planning isn't a one-time event. The needs of your family change at diagnosis, at transition to adulthood, at your own retirement, and eventually at your death. We work with families at every one of those stages — not just at the beginning.



Parents who plan early have more options. Parents who plan later still have good ones. The important thing is that a plan exists.

Three people in a living room, one in a wheelchair, smiling at a bouquet of flowers and a card.

When Medicaid Planning Is Also Part of the Picture

For families navigating both special needs planning and long-term care for aging parents, the planning strategies often intersect. Irrevocable trusts, Medicaid eligibility rules, and asset structuring decisions affect both generations. We work across both practice areas and can address the full picture in a single planning relationship.

Local Depth Where Atlanta Firms Don't Reach

Most special needs planning attorneys in Georgia are concentrated in Atlanta. Families in Fayette and Coweta Counties have historically had to choose between driving into the city or working with a generalist who doesn't know this area of law well.


We offer both: the planning depth this work requires and a local practice rooted in the two-county community. Our office is in Tyrone, and we serve families in Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Newnan, Senoia, and across Georgia by virtual consultation.

What a Complete Special Needs Plan Addresses

A trust document is the foundation — but a complete plan goes further. We help families work through every dimension of their child's future, including who will serve as guardian, who will manage the trust after you're gone, and what your child's daily life should look like in your absence.

  • Special Needs Trusts

    A properly structured special needs trust holds assets for your child's benefit without those assets counting against their Medicaid or SSI eligibility. It is the central tool in almost every special needs plan — and the details of how it's drafted matter enormously.

    Learn About Special Needs Trusts

  • ABLE Accounts

    An ABLE account is a tax-advantaged savings account available to individuals with qualifying disabilities — one that doesn't affect benefit eligibility up to certain contribution limits. We help families understand when an ABLE account supplements a special needs trust and when it stands on its own.

    Learn About ABLE Accuonts

  • Letter of Intent

    A letter of intent is a non-legal document that captures everything the next caregiver needs to know — your child's routines, preferences, medical history, relationships, and the things that make their life meaningful. It isn't enforceable, but it may be the most important thing you write.

    Learn About Letters of intent

Questions Special Needs Families Ask Before They Call

  • How do I protect my disabled child's government benefits when I leave them money in Georgia?

    The primary tool is a special needs trust. Assets held in a properly drafted special needs trust are not counted as resources for Medicaid or SSI eligibility purposes, which means your child can benefit from what you leave without losing the programs they depend on. The trust must be structured correctly — the details matter.

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

    A special needs trust is a legal arrangement that holds assets for the benefit of a person with a disability. A trustee manages the assets and uses them to pay for things that supplement — rather than replace — government benefits. Georgia follows federal rules for how these trusts must be structured to preserve eligibility.

  • Do I need a special needs attorney or will any estate planning attorney work?

    Special needs planning requires familiarity with SSI and Medicaid eligibility rules, trust drafting requirements, and the coordination of legal, financial, and caregiving decisions. A general estate planning attorney without this background can inadvertently create a trust that disqualifies your child from benefits. We work in this area regularly and understand what a compliant, functional trust requires.

    Let's Start a Conversation

  • What happens to my child's plan when I die?

    A complete special needs plan names a successor trustee to manage the trust, addresses guardianship if your child is a minor or requires ongoing legal protection, and includes a letter of intent that tells the next caregiver everything they need to know. We help families think through each of these decisions — not just the trust document.

  • When should I start special needs planning?

    As early as possible. Early planning means more options, more time to select and prepare a successor trustee, and a letter of intent built over years rather than written in a rush. That said, families who haven't started yet still have good options — the right time is now, whenever now is.

Your Child's Future Deserves a Plan That Holds

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation and let's talk about where your family is and what a complete plan would look like.