Basics of Estate Planning and Special Needs Trusts

Please join MitoAction as we welcome Annette Hines, Esq., founding partner of the Special Needs Law Group of Massachusetts. Ms. Hines will be speaking on the basics of estate planning and special needs trusts laws in the U.S. Questions to be answered include:

• What is estate planning?
• Why should you create a plan for your estate?
• What does a will do?
• What is probate, and which assets go through it?
• What is a trust?
• What documents are required for incapacity planning?
• What is a special needs trust, and why would you need one?

About the Speaker

Ms. Hines has been practicing in the areas of Special Needs, Elder Law and Estate Planning for over fifteen years. She received her JD from Howard University School of Law, her MBA from Suffolk University and her BA from the University of Vermont. Her clients include individuals and families of children with special needs, the elderly and others in the community.

Ms. Hines is the mother of two daughters, one of whom passed away from mitochondrial disease in November of 2013.  Her personal experience as the mother of a child with special needs fuels her passion for quality special needs planning and drives her special understanding and dedication to her practice.

Prior to practicing law, she founded and directed the nonprofit home care company, Special Families-Special Care, Incorporated which created a new standard for caregiving and a greater pay scale for caregivers. After leading the company to $1.5 million in revenue and 50 employees, she merged it with Shriver Clinical Services Corporation of Natick, Massachusetts and shifted her focus to her law practice.

In addition to her membership in the Massachusetts Bar Association, she is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the National Academy of Special Needs Planners (ASNP) and the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers (MAWL), serving most recently as President. Recognized as a Distinguished Citizen by ARC Massachusetts and cited for public service by both the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives, Ms. Hines works tirelessly on behalf of people with disabilities. Ms. Hines served as President of the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers for 2008-2009 and serves on the Board of Directors for a number of local non-profit organizations.