Posted on Sun Apr 19, 2020, on Special Needs Estate Planning
From Our “Ask a Question” Mailbag: “What is a Special Needs Trust? Can I use a Special Needs Trust to protect my special needs child?” What is a Special Needs Trust? If you have a loved one with special needs, he or she may be entitled to certain government benefits […]
Posted on Mon Apr 6, 2020, on Special Needs Estate Planning
From Our “Ask a Question” Mailbag: “How can I save money for my special needs child without disqualifying him from government benefits? Do I need to create a Special Needs Trust or are there other options?” How can I save money for my Special Needs Child? If you or a […]
Posted on Wed Dec 19, 2018, on Probate and Estate Administration
From Our “Ask a Question” Mailbag: “Please give me Examples of Avoiding Probate.” Examples of Avoiding Probate: Avoiding Probate with a Revocable Living Trust. Mr. Philadelphia had his Estate Planning Lawyer draft a Revocable Living Trust. Mr. Philadelphia served as the sole trustee during his life and moved all […]
Posted on Sun Dec 4, 2016, on Special Needs Estate Planning
From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “What is a Special Needs Trust?”
A Special Needs Trust is a trust designed to hold assets for a person receiving needs-based government benefits. The person who benefits from the trust is the “beneficiary.” Typically, the beneficiary is an individual with physical or mental disabilities who qualifies for needs-based benefits, such as Medicaid. Giving this person money or making them an heirwould disqualify them. Special Needs Trusts were created to hold assets for these people without excluding them from the benefits. A Special Needs Trust allows you to look out for your loved one by providing them with the little extras that will improve their life.
Posted on Mon Oct 3, 2016, on Special Needs Trust
From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “Can I form a Special Needs Trust during my lifetime? I would like to put some money aside for my Special Needs son now. But I don’t want to disqualify him from his Medicaid.”
Posted on Mon Sep 26, 2016, on Special Needs Trust
From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “At my son’s death, can I decide who receives any remaining money in the Special Needs Trust? I want to set up a Special Needs Trust for my son in my Will. But, when he dies, can my daughter receive what money remains?”
Posted on Fri Sep 9, 2016, on Special Needs Estate Planning
From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “I am setting up a Special Needs Trust for my son in my Will. I am trying to decide if I should pick my daughter or a bank as the Special Needs Trust Trustee. Who should I pick as the Special Needs Trust Trustee?”
Posted on Tue Aug 9, 2016, on Guardianship
From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: How do I petition for guardianship of my brother? “My mother has taken care of my severely autistic little brother his whole life in Philadelphia. She can no longer do so and wants me to take on the responsibility. How do I become my brother’s legally recognized Guardian?”
Posted on Wed May 4, 2016, on Special Needs Estate Planning
Our “Ask a Question” mailbag addresses the question, how to equalize inheritances with a special needs child.
“My estate is only large enough to provide care for my Special Needs child. So how do leave an equal amount to my other two sons? Is there a way to equalize inheritances with a special needs child with siblings?”
Posted on Tue Oct 27, 2015, on Special Needs Trust
From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: I want to form a Special Needs Trust for my daughter in my will, to be funded at my death. Will the money I put into the Special Needs Trust be subject to the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax?
The Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax rate for transfers to children is 4.5%. This tax is payable whether you give the child money outright or if you place the money in a trust. A Special Needs Trust is an Irrevocable Trust that has the added language allowing the money to be available for a Special Needs Person’s care, but still allows that person to qualify for Medicaid.
Peter Klenk is the founding member of Klenk Law, a seven attorney boutique estate planning law firm. We serve clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota and Florida. Peter Klenk received his Masters in Taxation LL.M. from NYU Law School and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. He served his country in the Navy JAGC during Desert Storm. Easy to talk to, feel free to call Peter for an appointment. We will make the process as easy as possible!
Peter recently gave a presentation about Wills & Trusts at my employer, and it was fantastic! He was extremely knowledgeable and provided valuable information to the group. People were very engaged and asked several questions, all of which Peter thoroughly answered. Personally, my husband and I have selected Peter to help us with our estate planning, and he has been very helpful in providing us with all of the information we need to provide a secure future for our family. Thank you, Peter!
I saw four lawyers and was told by all of them; I should just forget contesting my mother's will. I knew what happened, but it is very hard to prove undue influence. I contacted the Law Offices of Peter L. Klenk & Associates. Attorney Amanda DiChello took my case. They were very honest and upfront about what would be involved trying to prove what I knew was true. Attorney DiChello may be young but she is extremely knowledgeable and skilled. She listened and understood what I conveyed to her. She knew exactly what information to use and crafted an outstanding interrogatory and many powerful depositions. Attorney DiChello understood the various emotional feelings this case created for my family and me; she was always there for us with a kind and encouraging word. We went to trial. The amount of work which she and her Paralegal did for the trial was incredible. They both knew my case inside and out! Attorney DiChello's powerful interrogative and thinking skills produced a positive outcome. Attorney DiChello did what other seasoned lawyers said was impossible!
Peter has done a great job with the estate planning for my father. He is very thorough and patient as we, the family need to make decisions.
I've worked with and known Peter Klenk and his associates for years. They are highly professional, diligent and truly experts in their field. By focusing on just wills, trusts, and estates, Klenk law has experienced every angle of estate planning and applied that knowledge to help prepare our clients with thorough and comprehensive documents.
Klenk Law is an exceptional practice. Their fine lawyers and staff team up to produce excellent results for their clients. They excel at explaining the often cryptic laws and policies that govern estate planning right down to the complexities of the various "trust" frameworks. Peter himself manages each client together with his great team, and he has a rare quality to be both a walking encyclopedia of planning minutia and also one of the most likable lawyers I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with. He is truly generous in intellect and in his personal approach to getting the "big picture" for complex family structures. I trust him implicitly to help me make the right choices for the future. In short, Klenk Law is a gem of a firm.
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