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Benefits coordination
Understand how an inheritance, support from family, and planning decisions may interact with public benefits and other resources.
Special needs planning
Plan with care for the person, not just the paperwork.
Planning for a loved one with a disability may involve benefits, decision-making, family roles, and long-term support. For families in Buffalo and across New York, a useful plan starts by understanding the person and coordinating the pieces around them.
A place to begin
Make the next conversation easier.
The right approach depends on the person, family relationships, available benefits, decision-making needs, and the support you want to make possible. Suitability depends on the circumstances and applicable law.
A plan may include a will, a supplemental or special needs trust in general terms, beneficiary coordination, a guardianship or supported decision-making discussion, and practical instructions for future caregivers.
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Decision-making
Think through guardianship, supported decision-making, powers of attorney, health care, and the people who may help.
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Practical care details
Capture routines, preferences, providers, communication needs, and the information a future caregiver may need.
The details matter
Build a plan people can use.
Trusts and benefits
A supplemental or special needs trust may be considered to hold and manage resources for a beneficiary while preserving access to certain benefits, depending on the trust, program rules, and the person’s facts. It is not a universal solution and does not guarantee eligibility or a particular result.
Letters of intent
A letter of intent can collect practical information that may not belong in a legal document: routines, preferences, communication, health, education, providers, community, and what helps the person feel safe.
Family communication
Good planning includes conversations about roles, backup decision-makers, future care, and how information will be shared. The plan should be reviewed as the person’s needs and family circumstances change.
A thoughtful next step
Let’s talk through what support looks like.
Explore services, see the planning process, learn about the practice, or browse resources.
Legal information only: this page is educational and is not legal advice. Suitability, benefits, and outcomes depend on individual facts and applicable law. No attorney-client relationship is formed without a signed engagement agreement.