Special Needs Trusts and Religious Institutions

• Published in: The Exceptional parent 2009-05, Vol.39 (5), p.52
• Main Author: Schlereth, Ernest M
• Format: Magazinearticle
• Language: English
• Subjects: Children & youth; Disabilities; Disabled children; Donations; Estate planning; Exceptional children; Family; Money Management; Private Financial Support; Religious Organizations; Trustees; Trusts (Financial)
• ISSN: 0046-9157

In many ways, families who have children with special needs are similar to most other families. They share a daily routine, watch movies and eat popcorn on the weekends, and enjoy vacationing together at a beach or camp. All parents want their children to have access to good schools and the best possible healthcare. Most importantly, parents hope their children will be nurtured and respected in a caring, safe environment both in and outside the home. Accordingly, many families value the broader sense of community that often comes with attendance at a church, synagogue, or other place of worship. Despite these similarities, families of children with special needs also have unique challenges arising from the nature of the disabilities involved, as well as the child's long-term financial needs. The special needs trust (SNT) has become a valuable tool to assist such families with managing assets for a child's benefit during the parents' lifetimes and after their deaths. This article provides an overview of special needs trusts and discusses how a gift to a religious institution becomes a benefit to the beneficiary.