Special Needs Planning Seminars

As estate planning attorneys, we focus on complex family situations, particularly families with special needs children. Setting up special needs trusts and ABLE accounts are only the first steps. The planning encompasses so much more. We share our expertise and broader experience through seminars, webinars and blogs.

We present special needs planning seminars to a wide range of groups in the Bay Area spanning legal groups, special needs planning, financial fiduciaries and local organizations. Some are open to the public, many are restricted to the group inviting us to speak. All will be available in video format for viewing shortly after the event.

Upcoming Seminars

Free Seminars

Please contact our office for the Zoom Link. Email [email protected].

4-Parts “What We Need to Know” Speaker Series Hosted By Parents Helping Parents [Via Zoom]

– 11/06/24, 6:30pm-7:30pm: What We Need to Know: SSI, SSDI, Medi-Cal, Medicare

– 11/13/24, 6:30pm-7:30pm: What We Need to Know: Special Needs Trusts and Letters of Intent

– 12/4/24, 6:30pm-7:30pm: What We Need to Know: CalABLE Accounts

– 12/11/24, 6:30pm-7:30pm: What We Need to Know: Conservatorships and Alternatives

12/13/2024 at 6:30pm, Topic Talks with SARC: Conservatorship & Conservatorship Alternatives , San Andreas Regional Center

Paid Seminars

12/7/24, 2pm: Special Needs Trusts and ABLE Accounts Hosted by Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area

$85 — Whole Day – lunch included $40 — Half Day – lunch not included. RSVP HERE

Clear guidance for our NAMI community

“Thank you for educating our NAMI community about estate planning and special needs trusts with your engaging presentation. We especially liked how you used real life situations to illustrate what you explained.

Long term planning for our disabled loved ones is a pressing need for many of our families. Understanding the legal process and considerations can be daunting for a family in crisis. Your clear guidance makes it easier. That’s why you are such a valued member of our community.”

– Sarah Prabhu, Warmline Help Desk Manager, NAMI Santa Clara County

Past Presentations, Webinars & Podcasts

What We Need to Know: SSI, SSDI, Medi-Cal, Medicare

What We Need to Know: Special Needs Trusts and Letters of Intent

Podcast: Interview with website designer Jesus McDonald
Podcast: Interview with website designer Jesus McDonald

2024

Special Needs Planning and ABLE accounts hosted by California Siblings Network

Special Needs Planning and ABLE accounts hosted by NAMI Contra Costa

Basics of Special Needs Planning: Estate Planning, Trusts and ABLE Accounts hosted by Compass High School Neurodiversity Speaker Series

Special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, and more on Facebook Live with Caleb Wills of Galt Advocacy

What Happens When My Disabled Child Turns 18? Special Needs Planning and Conservatorships hosted by Inclusive World Families

Conservatorships & Special Needs Trust Planning hosted by San Andreas Regional Center

Overview of Special Needs Planning hosted by Wealth Architects

Estate Planning for Individuals with Disabilities hosted by IHSS Consumer Symposium

Panelist at Complex Planning: Special Needs Considerations hosted by High Tower Advisors

Recent Developments in Special Needs Planning hosted by West Hills Community Church

Recent Changes in Tax Law hosted by Moldaw Residences

Basics of Special Needs Planning hosted by Star Academy

CalABLE and Special Needs Trust hosted by North Los Angeles County Regional Center

Recent Developments in Special Needs Planning hosted by NAMI Santa Cruz County

Special Needs Trust and ABLE Accounts hosted by San Andreas Regional Center

Advanced Strategies for Administering Special Needs Trusts hosted by White Tiger Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

2023

Navigating Tax Challenges of ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts: Guidance for Elder Law Attorneys, Attorneys only

Basics of Special Needs Planning hosted by California Lawyers Association, Taxation Law Section

Hosted by Partners & Advocates for Remarkable Children & Adults (PARCA) a 3-part series webinar:

Conservatorships, Durable Power of Attorney and Supported Decision-Making, Special Needs Trusts and ABLE accounts, Introduction to Public Benefits

Recent Developments in Special Needs Planning hosted by The Avalon Academy and SPIN Santa Cruz

Special Needs Trust and ABLE Accounts Hosted by CalABLE

Proposition 19: Changes to California Taxes, presented to Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno

Special Needs Planning Hosted by Family Support Group at Felton San Mateo

Joshua’s Gift Autism Forum Panel with Dave Clark, Joey Travolta, and Mizpah Brown-Rich

Special Needs Planning: Best Practices for Utilizing ABLE Accounts, 3rd Party SNTs and 1st Party SNTs, presentsted at the NAFPA Spring 2023 National Conference

Basics in Specials Needs Planning at the Orion Academy, Parents Helping Parents, Ricon Valley Partnership In Santa Rosa, and NAMI San Mateo

Conservatorships, Durable Power of Attorney, and Supported Decision-Making Hosted by San Andreas Regional Center

Supported Decision – Making- An Alternative to Limited Conservatorships Hosted by San Mateo County Bar Association

Special Needs Trusts and ABLE Accounts – Presented at the Transition to Independence Fair ( hosted by The County Commission on Disabilities ,the High School Workability Classes, and DOR & GGRC & other services)

2022

Stanford School of Medicine: “Don’t Limit Me: Discussing Serious News with Intellectually Disabled Adults,” Palo Alto, CA

2021

“Navigating Tax Challenges of ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts: Guidance for Elder Law Attorneys”  Attorneys only – September 15, 2021 at 1:00pm EDT

“Basics of Special Needs Planning”  California Lawyers Association, Taxation Law Section

2020

Stanford School of Medicine: “Don’t Limit Me: Discussing Serious News with Intellectually Disabled Adults,” Palo Alto, CA

2019

Peninsula Estate Planning Council: “Recent Developments in Special Needs Planning,” San Mateo, CA

eParents Support Group: “Estate Planning for Special Needs Families,” Alamo, CA

ReMax Mid-Peninsula: “Basics in Estate Planning,” San Carlos, CA

Atria Senior Living: “Recent Developments in Special Needs Planning,” Burlingame, CA

2018

San Mateo County Bar Association, Estate Planning & Probate Section: “Basics of Public Benefits,” San Mateo, CA

Sand Hill Global Advisors: “12th Annual Attorneys’ Roundtable,” East Palo Alto, CA

Peninsula Special Needs Community: “The Life Cycle of a Special Needs Trust,” Redwood City, CA

Down Syndrome Connection Bay Area: “Basics of Public Benefits and Special Needs Planning,” Burlingame, CA

NBI, Inc.: “Legal Ethics Essentials,”- part of a 6-hour webcast entitled “Special Needs Trusts in a Nutshell” broadcasting

NBI, Inc.: “Documenting Long-Term Care, Incapacity and End-Of-Life Decisions” part of seminar entitled “Estate Planning from A to Z,” San Francisco, CA

NAMI of San Mateo County: “Special Needs Planning: How to Best Protect Your Loved One,” San Mateo, CA

Jerry A. Kasner Estate Planning Symposium: “California Legal Ethics: Disabled Clients Edition,” Santa Clara, CA

Society of Financial Service Professionals, Silicon Valley chapter: “Estate Planning for Special Needs Families,” San Jose, CA

Hillsdale High School: “The Nuts and Bolts of Special Needs Planning,” San Mateo, CA

We can simplify the Estate Planning process. Find out how.