The Importance of Writing a Letter of Intent for Your Special Needs Child
March 16, 2023
After you pass away, a letter of intent (LOI) for your special needs child can provide comfort and continuity for them.
After you pass away, a letter of intent (LOI) for your special needs child can provide comfort and continuity for them.
Trusts set up for loved ones with disabilities are typically supervised by the grantor (the individual who creates and funds the trust). However, it is crucial to choose a successor trustee who will continue properly managing the SNT to benefit the special needs individual. When selecting a reliable, honest, and capable successor trustee, there is much to consider since trusts often operate on the honor system unless there are egregious circumstances that the courts must address.
How are special needs defined? The term special needs refer to those with learning difficulties, behavioral or emotional problems, or physical disabilities requiring specialized education. For example, individuals with autism, ADHD, Asperger syndrome, Down syndrome, dyscalculia, dyslexia, deafness, blindness, and cystic fibrosis fall into the special needs category, as do cleft lips, missing limbs, and more. The US government combines this group into the overall classification of disability, and current US Census data estimates the US disabled population to be 12.7 percent or 41.1 million individuals.