When you care for someone with special needs, every decision is made with love and concern for their future. At the Law Offices of Heather Pietroforte, we help families create protective, thoughtful estate plans that preserve government benefits, ensure lifelong care, and bring peace of mind.
Without a plan, your loved one could lose critical benefits, face legal complications, or be left without the care they need.
Even a small inheritance can disqualify a person with special needs from essential programs like SSI or Medicaid, leaving them without support.
If no trusted person is legally named to manage funds, a court-appointed guardian could gain control, someone you never would have chosen.
If you haven’t designated a guardian or healthcare agent, someone with no connection to your loved one might make life-changing choices on their behalf.
Without a plan in writing, there’s a real risk your loved one could be placed in a facility or with a caregiver that doesn't understand, or honor, their needs.
A thoughtful plan protects your loved one from uncertainty, and gives you peace of mind
We help you set up a special needs trust that safeguards assets while preserving eligibility for government assistance like SSI and Medi-Cal.
We guide you in legally naming a trusted person to make healthcare, education, and housing decisions, ensuring your loved one is always supported.
We help you create a document that explains your loved one’s routines, preferences, and care needs, so future caregivers have guidance beyond just legal paperwork.
These tools give the right people authority to make medical and financial decisions, without court delays or unwanted involvement.
We make sure your life insurance and retirement accounts are set up to fund a special needs trust, not given directly, which could disrupt benefits.
We offer continued guidance to update your special needs trust and related documents so your plan stays effective as laws shift and your family evolves.
When you're caring for someone with special needs, every decision feels high-stakes, and the future can feel uncertain. Estate planning helps replace fear with a thoughtful, loving plan.
A properly structured special needs trust ensures your loved one keeps vital benefits like SSI or Medi-Cal, even if they receive an inheritance.
We help secure funds and legal tools to cover future living expenses, therapies, and support, without placing the burden on other family members.
With a plan in place, you can rest easier knowing your loved one will be cared for, by the people and programs you trust, even when you’re not around.
Clearly written legal documents eliminate guesswork, prevent disputes, and offer clarity to siblings, caregivers, and future trustees.
Got any questions? We’re here to help!
Special needs planning ensures your loved one is financially secure and legally protected — both now and when you’re no longer around. It covers more than just a trust: it includes guardianship, benefit protection, healthcare directives, and long-term care plans.
Choose someone who understands your child’s needs, shares your values, and is emotionally and financially prepared to take on the role. It’s also wise to name backup guardians in case your first choice can’t serve.
A conservatorship is a court process that gives someone control over a person’s affairs. A power of attorney is a legal document that lets you choose who can make decisions if you can’t. Each serves a different purpose depending on your loved one’s capacity.
Yes. With the right legal tools — such as a properly structured trust — your loved one can keep receiving government benefits while still having funds available for extra care, education, housing, and more.
A complete plan may include a special needs trust, a will, guardianship designations, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and letters of intent. We’ll help you create a plan that’s clear, complete, and built around your loved one’s unique life.
Planning for the future can feel overwhelming, but you’re not expected to have all the answers. That’s where we come in.
At Law Offices of Heather Pietroforte, we listen first. Then we help you create a plan that reflects your values, honors your wishes, and protects the people you love.
No judgment. No pressure. Just a compassionate guide, every step of the way.
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Let me help you protect the people and things you love to make sure they stay out of court and out of conflict.