Special needs trusts in Colorado
Provide for your loved one’s future, while protecting their benefits.
A special needs trust can support a child or family member with a disability for life, while helping preserve eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, and other public benefits.
Meet with an attorney. No cost and no obligation.
Why it matters
The same gift, two very different outcomes.
Benefits like SSI and Medicaid have strict limits on what a person can own. How you leave an inheritance can make all the difference.
Left directly to your loved one
- The inheritance counts as their own money.
- It can push them over benefit limits.
- SSI and Medicaid may be reduced or stop until the money is spent.
Left to a special needs trust
- The trust holds the money, not your loved one.
- A trustee you choose pays for extras that improve their life.
- Benefits can continue, and the trust adds to them.
General information, not legal advice. Benefit rules are complex and depend on your loved one’s situation.
A fuller life
What the trust can pay for.
Public benefits cover the basics. A special needs trust can pay for the things that make life richer.
Education
Tutoring, classes, and job training
Therapies
Care not fully covered by benefits
Recreation
Camps, hobbies, and family trips
Transportation
Rides, a vehicle, or adaptations
Technology
Devices, software, and equipment
Care and support
Companions, advocates, and respite
Some payments, like housing costs, can reduce SSI. We help trustees understand the rules.
Finding the right fit
Ways to set money aside.
The right tool depends on whose money it is and how it will be used. Many families use more than one.
Most common for parents
Third-party trust
Funded by parents, grandparents, or others. It can be part of your estate plan and receive gifts or an inheritance.
Their own funds
First-party trust
Holds money that belongs to the person with a disability, such as a settlement or an inheritance received directly.
Works alongside a trust
ABLE account
A tax-advantaged savings account your loved one can use directly for everyday disability-related expenses.
How it works
Schedule your free consultation
Pick a time online that works for you. You will meet with an attorney for 30 minutes, at no cost.
Talk through your options
We listen, answer your questions in plain language, and discuss fees before any work begins.
Move forward with confidence
Put the trust, trustee guidance, and the rest of your family’s plan in writing.
Meet your attorney
Personal attention, from first call to final signature.
You will work directly with Brian, who takes time to understand your family, explains each option in plain language, and lets you decide at your own pace.
What you can expect
- Direct access
- Work with Brian throughout
- Clear explanations
- Plain language, practical options
- No surprises
- Fees discussed before work begins
Special needs guides
Special needs guides and answers
Plain-language help for families providing for a loved one with a disability.
All guides →Common questions
Questions we hear often.
General information, not legal advice. For guidance on your situation, schedule a free consultation.
Your next step
Let’s plan for their future, together.
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your loved one’s needs and your family’s plan.