Planning for the future of a child with special needs can feel overwhelming, but the right legal strategies can provide security and peace of mind. In this episode, Sara sits down with special needs trust attorney Ellen Cookman to break down how families can protect their child's financial future without jeopardizing essential public benefits like SSI and Medicaid. Ellen shares expert insights on the different types of special needs trusts, common pitfalls to avoid, and how to ensure flexibility as circumstances change. She also opens up about her own experience as a mother navigating the special needs journey. Whether you're just beginning to explore special needs trust planning or looking to refine your existing plan, this episode is packed with invaluable advice to help you make informed, empowered decisions that will protect your child's best interests both now and after you're gone.
About Ellen:
Ellen Cookman is the principal attorney of Cookman Law in Palo Alto, California. She is passionate about helping families of all shapes and sizes plan for the future and utilize available resources.
Ellen is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law from the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. She received her J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law and her LL.M. in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate from Golden Gate University. Ellen has a very popular YouTube channel titled “Ellen Cookman – Special Needs Trust Attorney.”
Ellen lives in East Palo Alto with her husband, two cute and very active boys (her older son has high-functioning autism), a Siberian husky mix named Rosie, and a kitty named Skittles.
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