By: Jeffrey D. Stauffer – Community Relations Director, jeff@elvilleassociates.com, 443-393-7696 On Thursday, January 24 th, for a fourth consecutive year families of students at the Harbour School at Annapolis came out to listen to Elville and Associates’ principal Stephen R. Elville, J.D., LL.M., present a far-reaching discussion about “What Families Need to Know About Planning for a Loved One with Special Needs.” Through Elville and Associates’ and Mr. Elville’s commitment to education, attendees came to understand what is involved in the planning process for a special needs family and the importance of preserving the loved one’s financial security and quality of life. The key issues of understanding the role of public benefits, making decisions about the future, and using estate planning and trusts to protect assets was discussed along with the types of special needs trusts and their specific purposes, along with who the decision makers and beneficiaries can be in these trusts. The “planning team concept” was also introduced — how a family’s’ attorney, financial advisor, CPA, and others can work together to help provide them peace of mind during the special needs planning process and beyond. In a recently-developed partnership with Elville and Associates, Mr. Elville and the firm were pleased to welcome Mr. John Shatto, ABLE Ambassador with Maryland ABLE, to the presentation. Mr. Shatto’s charismatic discussion led families through the latest information about Maryland ABLE accounts, a new way to help individuals with disabilities save money and pay for qualified disability-related expenses without jeopardizing state or federal means-tested benefits such as SSI or Medicaid. His insights added great value to the evening’s discussion, and Elville and Associates is looking forward to many more joint events with Mr. Shatto and Maryland ABLE. To learn more about Maryland ABLE, visit www.marylandable.org. Elville and Associates has partnered with both Harbour School campuses to offer special needs planning workshops to its families for the past four years, and the firm values its relationship with this high-level special needs school. The firm’s attorneys engage clients in a multi-step educational process to create solutions for its clients’ needs ensure that estate, special needs, and elder law planning works from inception, throughout lifetime, and at administration. Clients are encouraged to take advantage of the “planning team concept” for leading-edge, customized planning. The education of clients and their families through counseling and superior legal-technical knowledge is the mission of the attorneys at Elville and Associates. With offices in Columbia, Annapolis, Baltimore, and Rockville, Elville and Associates proudly serves clients in central Maryland, the Washington metro area, and the Eastern Shore. Visit www.elvilleassociates-staging.bgbshlgq-liquidwebsites.com to learn more.
