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WV Special Needs Planning Attorney
Help with Special Needs Planning & Trusts in WV
As a mother of children with special needs, Kelly Crites personally understands the challenges of planning for the short and long term in these unique situations.
As a WV special needs planning attorney, she is knowledgeable in the various ways families can and should legally prepare for the unexpected and inevitable in life, especially when the care and well-being of children with special needs are at stake.
At The Law Office of Kelly S. Crites, we invest time to get to know you and your family. We will clearly explain the options and base our recommendations on your specific circumstances. We prefer to develop close and ongoing relationships with clients to ensure your plans remain relevant and updates are made when changes occur in your life and finances and/or when modifications to laws impact your arrangements. When you have questions, we are available and responsive, putting your ease, convenience, and time first.
The Instruments of Special Needs Estate Planning
Parents of children with special needs should use many of the traditional estate planning tools to protect their family’s well-being while the parents are living and after their deaths. However, some additional legal instruments are used in special needs estate planning.
Temporary & Permanent Guardianship or Conservatorship
Everyone with minor children should have a guardianship plan in place. Parents of children with special needs are no exception, and may also need or want to consider a conservatorship and implement plans for their children’s care after they reach the age of 18. These plans can ensure your children are cared for temporarily if you are incapacitated and in the long term upon your death.
Child Protection Plans
A child protection plan can include details like medical history, needs, and instructions; emergency contacts; financial details; care and communication preferences; educational needs; and social or community involvement information. These plans help ensure your child is cared for in the manner you and others invested in their care and well-being have determined to be most effective and enriching.
Special Needs Trusts
Establishing a WV special needs trust provides a means of financial support for your child—ensuring their medical and personal care, housing, and transportation needs are met throughout life. These trusts are structured in a manner that allows a child or adult with special needs to avoid disqualification from government benefits, like Social Security Disability income and Medicaid.
Our Approach to Special Needs Estate Planning
First Session
The first step in our WV special needs planning process is an in-person introductory session during which we will get acquainted and discuss your circumstances and areas of concern. Kelly will make recommendations and design a personalized plan to meet your goals.
Second Session
In our second session, we will review all elements of your plan and related documentation. Kelly will answer any remaining questions you have, plans will be finalized, and the necessary documents will be signed. This session is typically done virtually.
Third Session
Your third session with us will again be in person. We will deliver a binder with your original, executed documents as well as electronic files. We will also discuss future planning and arrange to meet again, usually in either one or three years, to check the status of your plan and assets, review for necessary changes, and update the plan and documentation as needed.
Schedule a Meeting with Your WV Special Needs Planning Attorney
Delaying to plan for the future can put your family at risk. This is especially true when you have children with special needs and concerns. We strive to make the estate planning process easy—even enjoyable—and often hear from clients what relief and satisfaction it provides to know these matters are handled.
Contact Kelly Crites, a WV special needs planning attorney in Petersburg serving clients in Grant County, the Potomac Highlands, the Eastern Panhandle, and throughout West Virginia. Call (304) 257-9181 or complete this online contact form to schedule your consultation or get more information.