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Helping Great Bend Families Protect Loved Ones with Disabilities
Special Needs Trust Attorney in Great Bend, KS
Families in Great Bend, Kansas often face a difficult challenge: how to provide for children or loved ones with disabilities without jeopardizing their eligibility for essential benefits like SSI and KanCare (Kansas Medicaid). The answer is a Special Needs Trust (SNT)—a legal tool that preserves benefits while ensuring long-term care and quality of life.
What Is a Special Needs Trust?
A Special Needs Trust holds funds for a disabled beneficiary, managed by a trustee. Funds can be used for:
Therapy and medical expenses not covered by insurance
Education, training, and employment support
Travel, recreation, and quality-of-life items
Transportation and adaptive equipment
Types of Special Needs Trusts in Kansas
First-Party SNT (Self-Settled)
Funded with the beneficiary’s own assets, such as an inheritance or settlement.
Must include a Medicaid payback clause at death.
Third-Party Supplemental Needs Trusts
Created by parents or grandparents for a loved one.
No Medicaid reimbursement required.
Commonly established as a sub-trust inside the parent’s living trust to ensure seamless planning.
Pooled Trusts
Managed by nonprofits, with funds from multiple beneficiaries combined.
Why Sub-Trusts Are the Most Common Solution
For most Kansas families, the most effective way to set up an SNT is by creating a sub-trust within the parent’s own estate plan. This structure ensures that:
Inheritances automatically flow into the special needs sub-trust.
Benefits remain protected.
Trustees can follow detailed instructions tailored to the child’s needs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Leaving assets directly to the disabled individual.
Using beneficiary designations that bypass the trust.
Failing to educate trustees about distribution rules.
Our trust-first planning avoids these pitfalls.
Serving Great Bend and Barton County
Advanced Legal Planning helps families in Great Bend, KS, and surrounding communities such as Hoisington, Ellinwood, and Claflin.
Derby Office: 111 N. Baltimore Ave, Derby, KS 67037
Wichita Office: 10300 W Central Ave, Wichita, KS 67212
Call us or use our Contact Page to discuss creating a special needs trust.
Great Bend-Specific FAQs
Can grandparents contribute to a special needs trust?
Yes. A sub-trust in their own estate plan is often the best way.
Does an SNT eliminate SSI or Medicaid?
No. It preserves eligibility while supplementing benefits.
Can a trust pay for food or housing?
Sometimes—but it must be done carefully to avoid reducing benefits.
Who should serve as trustee?
Parents often start, but a trusted relative or professional trustee can be appointed later.
At Advance Legal Planning, we believe long-term care shouldn’t mean losing everything. Our experienced team helps families navigate Medicaid and estate planning, ensuring you can protect your home, savings, and future—without the confusion or stress.
Get In Touch
Call (316) 252-2233 for Experienced Medicaid & Estate Planning
Derby Office
111 N. Baltimore Ave Derby, KS 67037
Mon – Fri 9am to 5pm
Sat & Sun – Closed
Wichita Office
10300 W Central Ave Wichita, KS 67212
Mon – Fri 9am to 5pm
Sat & Sun – Closed
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