When you have a child with special needs, there is so little time to think about the future. You are constantly busy caring for and advocating for your child. Despite your full schedule, you need to make time to do future planning for both your child and yourself.
What Is a Future Plan?
A future plan ensures that you and your child have your needs met and have financial resources in the future. It also accounts for tax and legal issues that may arise. Future plans vary depending on your family’s needs, but may include:
- A special needs trust
- An ABLE account
- Wills and possibly revocable living trusts
- Advance medical directives
- Life insurance
- A letter of intent
- Retirement planning
Why to Future Plan for Yourself
Making a plan for yourself is just as important as making a plan for your child. You are most likely one of your child’s primary caregivers. If you are not around to take care of your child due to illness, injury, or death, what will happen? Your child will need someone to step in your shoes and take over his or her care. Your child will also need financial resources to pay for ongoing medical and personal needs. Future planning will help you prepare for this situation.
The truth is that many children with special needs long outlive their parents, and they need a support system in place before their parents pass away. Whether this involves a sibling taking over as successor guardian and implementing a plan to ensure they have a full life in the community, future planning can make sure the plan gets executed.
Rubin Law is the only law firm in Illinois exclusively limited to providing compassionate special needs legal and future planning to guide our fellow Illinois families of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or mental illness down the road to peace of mind. For more information, email us at email@rubinlaw.com or call 866-TO-RUBIN.
