Episode Details

In this episode, host Jill Mastroianni continues her conversation with Kristen Lewis, a special needs estate planning attorney. They explore how to build the right team of professionals to support your child’s future. From trustees to life care planners, disability care managers, and legal guardians, they discuss who should be on your team and how to choose the right people for these critical roles.

Kristen also shares key mistakes to avoid—such as disinheriting a child with special needs—and explains how tools like special needs trusts and ABLE accounts fit into a well-rounded planning strategy. Whether you're just getting started or refining an existing plan, this episode will give you actionable steps to help you move forward with confidence.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The key professionals to include in your special needs planning team (estate planning attorneys, trustees, life care planners, disability care managers, intimacy counselors, and more)
• How to choose a trustee for a special needs trust and why professional trustees are often the best choice
• Why disinheriting a child with special needs is a mistake—and what to do instead
• The role of ABLE accounts in financial planning and their limitations
• How to coordinate assets and beneficiary designations to ensure financial security without jeopardizing government benefits
• The importance of family communication and how a well-prepared plan can ease concerns for both parents and siblings

Resources & Links:

Find a Special Needs Estate Planning Attorney: Special Needs Alliance
ABLE Account Information: ABLE National Resource Center

Kristen Lewis’ Resources: Estate Planning for Families with Special Needs; Planning Challenges for Families with Special Needs; What Can a Care Manager Do for Me?

Caregiver Important Information Sheet

Contact Kristen Lewis: klewis@harrisonllp.com

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: jill@deathreadiness.com
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.

Have Questions about Special Needs Estate Planning?

Special needs estate planning is complicated, and it’s normal to need to hear this information more than once! If you have questions, email me at jill@deathreadiness.com. If enough people ask, Kristen and I may do a follow-up episode to clarify key points.

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This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healt