Supplemental, aka special needs trusts (SNTs), are an excellent vehicle to hold assets for persons with disabilities. This article discusses the different types of SNTs, the benefits and implications of SNTs and the accounting requirements of SNTs.

In order to discover whether your clients, their children, or their children’s children have a disability, you must first always ask the question. If the answer is yes, then ask follow-up questions: What estate planning exists for the disabled individual? Where did the disabled individual’s assets come from? Is the disabled individual receiving Medicaid or another needs-based benefit or may they need to qualify for those benefits in the future? How old is the disabled individual?

What Type of SNT Is Needed?