How can families get help planning for the future when a loved one has a disability?

Being the parent or caretaker of a child or adult with special needs adds layers of complexity to the prospect of planning for the future. You need knowledgeable legal support to understand all of the solutions that could help your family provide for the future of a loved one with special needs. A Marlton special needs planning attorney at Cohler Law can help you consider all the options and decide, based on your specific circumstances, what strategies can be used to develop an estate plan that provides the most advantages for your family.

What types of conditions and disabilities can be addressed through estate planning for families of individuals with special needs?

Many different physical, mental, emotional, behavioral, and developmental conditions can result in an individual having special needs that can pose additional challenges throughout their life. At Cohler Law, our attorneys assist families in planning for the future of individuals with Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, fetal alcohol syndrome, and numerous other types of conditions that can result in significant disability or special needs of any kind.

What estate planning tools could help families provide for the future of a loved one with special needs?

Families who are planning for the future of an individual with special needs have options when it comes to estate planning. In addition to having wills and power of attorney documents in place for themselves, a parent or caretaker should consider establishing a special needs trust, planning for guardianship, and potentially putting power of attorney documents into effect on behalf of the loved one with a disability. Consulting a special needs planning lawyer in Burlington County, NJ, allows you to discuss your specific situation with a knowledgeable legal professional and figure out exactly which estate planning tools best fit your family’s needs.

What can be done to prevent an inheritance from causing an individual with special needs to lose any government benefits they are entitled to?

If your family member’s disability qualifies them for government benefits such as Social Security payments or Medicaid coverage, it’s important to consider these benefits as you plan for the future. Making mistakes in how you approach estate planning could result in your loved one unfairly losing eligibility for benefits. Instead of benefitting from any inheritance they receive, they may end up worse off because of this loss of benefits. Special needs trusts are designed specifically to prevent an individual with a disability from losing eligibility for government benefits as a result of the assets they inherit.

Marlton Special Needs Planning Attorney | Special Needs Planning Lawyer Burlington County, NJ

Cohler Law/

Marlton Special Needs Planning Attorney

Special Needs Planning Lawyer in Burlington County, NJ Developing Comprehensive Plans for Unique Needs in Marlton, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Mount Laurel, Medford, and Throughout South Jersey

Everyone could benefit from planning for the future, but for parents and families of individuals with special needs, careful planning is particularly important. If your child has ongoing needs that will impact their independence or their ability to provide for themselves throughout adulthood, you have considerable reason to worry about who will take care of them after you’re gone. At Cohler Law, we provide the knowledgeable guidance of a seasoned Marlton special needs planning attorney with a focus on personalized, compassionate service.

Don’t take on the challenge of planning for the future alone or risk making common mistakes that could ultimately leave your child without the resources they need. Contact us today to see how a special needs planning lawyer in Burlington County, NJ, can help you.

Skilled Special Needs Planning Assistance in Marlton, NJ

Special needs planning is an area of estate planning that involves specific challenges. You have to plan not only for your own future and the distribution of your assets and possessions after you die but also for the care of a loved one who, because of their disability, may never be able to provide for themselves independently.

Like other families, parents and caretakers of individuals with special needs have to consider the usual concerns of estate planning, like how to divide their assets and minimize tax burdens and the hassles of the probate process. You also have a lot more to think about, such as guardianship and how to set up your child’s inheritance in a way that won’t interfere with any government benefits their disability entitles them to.

Because your loved one faces extra challenges that will persist over the course of their lifetime, the stakes involved in planning for the future are particularly high. You need to know that if you’re not around to take care of them, the measures you took to provide for a loved one with a disability through estate planning will be enough to give them the support they need. That’s where the guidance of a dedicated Marlton special needs planning attorney comes in.

How Cohler Law Can Help

As a full-service estate planning firm with extensive experience supporting families through the special needs planning process, Cohler Law is here to provide the knowledge and trusted advice you need. We’re committed to helping the families we serve by providing the counsel they need to make informed decisions about planning for the future. We craft personalized estate plans that reflect your unique priorities, circumstances, and concerns.

A seasoned Marlton special needs planning attorney at Cohler Law can assist families with implementing solutions such as:

Clear, valid wills that make your wishes known
Special needs trusts and trusts of other kinds to protect your assets
Guardianships and power of attorney documents that establish trusted caretakers and decision-makers for special needs adults
Living wills, advance directives, and power of attorney documents that establish your wishes regarding your own medical care and who should be your decision-maker, so this burden never falls on a loved one who isn’t suited for the task due to a disability

The uncertainty of the future may be scary, particularly when you have a loved one with special needs to worry about, but it’s possible to minimize that uncertainty and provide for your family’s needs through meaningful and strategic estate planning.

Why Choose Cohler Law?

Cohler Law has a reputation for providing estate planning services that help families make sense of this complex area of law and replace the uncertainty of the future with the security of peace of mind. We know that families face numerous barriers to getting the legal help they need, and we’re here to confront these obstacles and put professional special needs planning assistance within reach. For a Marlton special needs planning attorney recognized throughout the region, turn to Cohler Law.

Providing Peace of Mind for Families With Concerns About Special Needs Planning

As the parent or caretaker of a child or adult with special needs, there’s so much to worry about. We know the uncertainties of the future can leave you with a lot to fear, especially when you wonder how your loved one will manage life without you there to take care of them. We’re dedicated to identifying solutions that provide peace of mind for the entire family.

Helping Families Navigate Confusing Terms and Processes in Planning for the Future

Making sense of the legal jargon and complicated processes and details involved in the field of estate planning can be challenging. That’s why you need professional guidance to help you understand all of the options available to you and identify the best path forward. An experienced special needs planning lawyer in Burlington County, NJ, can help you put together a plan that provides the most comprehensive legal protections possible for your child’s future.

Removing the Obstacles That Make Estate Planning Difficult

It can be emotionally difficult to think about what will happen to your family after you die, especially when you have a child with special needs depending on you to take care of them through adulthood. For many families, there are numerous other obstacles to getting skilled legal assistance for estate planning, as well. Cohler Law is committed to overcoming these barriers. To make it easier to consult an attorney, we offer flexible appointment times for your convenience and meet individually with clients to get to know their unique circumstances. Not only can you consult an attorney at your convenience, but you also can rest assured that the guidance we provide to you is customized to your specific situation.

Contact a Marlton Special Needs Planning Attorney at Cohler Law Today for Help Preparing for the Future

Your family has already been through so much. You deserve the advantages that come with having a seasoned legal professional guiding you through the process of preparing for the future and ensuring your loved one will be taken care of.

For help from a special needs planning lawyer in Burlington County, NJ, contact Cohler Law online or call 856-644-1969 today.

Being the parent or caretaker of a child or adult with special needs adds layers of complexity to the prospect of planning for the future. You need knowledgeable legal support to understand all of the solutions that could help your family provide for the future of a loved one with special needs. A Marlton special needs planning attorney at Cohler Law can help you consider all the options and decide, based on your specific circumstances, what strategies can be used to develop an estate plan that provides the most advantages for your family.
Many different physical, mental, emotional, behavioral, and developmental conditions can result in an individual having special needs that can pose additional challenges throughout their life. At Cohler Law, our attorneys assist families in planning for the future of individuals with Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, fetal alcohol syndrome, and numerous other types of conditions that can result in significant disability or special needs of any kind.
Families who are planning for the future of an individual with special needs have options when it comes to estate planning. In addition to having wills and power of attorney documents in place for themselves, a parent or caretaker should consider establishing a special needs trust, planning for guardianship, and potentially putting power of attorney documents into effect on behalf of the loved one with a disability. Consulting a special needs planning lawyer in Burlington County, NJ, allows you to discuss your specific situation with a knowledgeable legal professional and figure out exactly which estate planning tools best fit your family’s needs.
If your family member’s disability qualifies them for government benefits such as Social Security payments or Medicaid coverage, it’s important to consider these benefits as you plan for the future. Making mistakes in how you approach estate planning could result in your loved one unfairly losing eligibility for benefits. Instead of benefitting from any inheritance they receive, they may end up worse off because of this loss of benefits. Special needs trusts are designed specifically to prevent an individual with a disability from losing eligibility for government benefits as a result of the assets they inherit.

Meet Our Team

Abby N. Cohler

Abby N. Cohler, Attorney at Law, established her practice in 1991 and has diligently assisted clients in Marlton and throughout New Jersey in crafting meaningful and effective estate plans. These plans are designed to protect assets, preserve client wishes, and establish family legacies.

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Adam L. Cohler

In 2023, Adam transitioned to private practice, partnering with Abby N. Cohler, Esq. Together, they offer personalized and dedicated legal representation. Adam is also deeply involved in the legal community. He serves as a Trustee for the Camden County Bar Association and as the Young Lawyer Chair.

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