eConference
2025 Special Needs Trusts eConference
Contains material from Mar 2025
2025 Special Needs Trusts eConference
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The 21st Annual Changes and Trends Affecting Special Needs Trusts brings together nationally recognized professionals in the SNT field, features the latest updates and hot topics, and offers a great set of materials including sample forms, drafting tips, sample language, and resources.
Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides No Materials
- Total Credit Hours:
- 13.25 | 3.50 ethics
- Credit Info
- TX, CA, PA
- TX MCLE credit expires: 3/31/2026
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1.
Special Needs Trusts 101: The Basics (Mar 2025)
Molly Dear Abshire
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1.00
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Paper
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52 pgs
Slides
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26 pgs
Session 1 —61 mins 1.00
Special Needs Trusts 101: The Basics (Mar 2025)
An overview of the basics of special needs trusts and public benefits including selection of appropriate trust option, pitfalls to avoid and case examples.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Molly Dear Abshire,
Wright Abshire Attorneys, P.C. - Bellaire, TX
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2.
Case Law Update (Mar 2025)
Elisa Dillard Rainey
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0.75
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Paper
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14 pgs
Slides
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17 pgs
Session 2 —46 mins 0.75
Case Law Update (Mar 2025)
A review of recent cases from around the country impacting special needs trusts, trustees and trust beneficiaries.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Elisa Dillard Rainey,
Rainey & Rainey, Attorneys at Law PLLC - Waco, TX
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3.
Maximizing Public Benefits (Mar 2025)
H. Clyde Farrell, Christina Lesher
1.00
0.25
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1.00 | 0.25 ethics
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Paper
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309 pgs
Slides
(pdf)
10 pgs
Slides
(pdf)
15 pgs
Session 3 —59 mins 1.00 | 0.25 ethics
Maximizing Public Benefits (Mar 2025)
Discuss how to identify what benefits your client has; what additional benefits they may be eligible for; what distributions by a trustee (or anyone) will make them ineligible; and what distributions will keep them eligible for those benefits.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
H. Clyde Farrell,
Farrell & Johnson PLLC - Austin, TX
Christina Lesher,
The Law Office of Christina Lesher, PC - Houston, TX
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4.
Taxation of SNTs, Including Court Created Trusts (Mar 2025)
Chris Klemme
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0.50
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Paper
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8 pgs
Slides
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9 pgs
Session 4 —24 mins 0.50
Taxation of SNTs, Including Court Created Trusts (Mar 2025)
A basic overview of tax issues relating to the administration of special needs trusts, including those created by court order.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Chris Klemme,
American National Bank & Trust - Dallas, TX
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5.
Issue Spotting: Case Management and Advocacy (Mar 2025)
Michael S. Cognetti
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0.75 | 0.25 ethics
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23 pgs
Session 5 —49 mins 0.75 | 0.25 ethics
Issue Spotting: Case Management and Advocacy (Mar 2025)
In the early days of special needs planning, “supplemental” needs trusts were intended to do just that: provide funds for quality of life enhancements for a person whose primary needs would be met by a well-funded system of supports. Today, at a time when parents and caregivers are aging and dying, and where Medicaid funded programs are a shell of what they used to be, funds left in trust for a person with a disability will often serve as a primary source of long term support. This presentation highlights the benefits of case management and advocacy services in identifying and addressing the challenges faced by a trustee managing funds in a discretionary trust for a disabled beneficiary whose formal and informal support networks are changing.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Michael S. Cognetti,
Wilcenski & Pleat PLLC and Adirondack Case Management & Advocacy LLC - Clifton Park, NY
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6.
ABLE Updates (Mar 2025)
Anna Mallett
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Paper
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8 pgs
Slides
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15 pgs
Session 6 —32 mins 0.50
ABLE Updates (Mar 2025)
Learn about the tax-advantaged Texas Achieving a Better Life Experience Program (Texas ABLE®), a disability savings program created specifically for Texans with qualifying disabilities. This session takes a deeper dive into all things Texas ABLE—from how to open and manage a Texas ABLE account to discovering ways eligible individuals with disabilities and their families are using the accounts, all while helping to preserve state and federal means-tested benefits, including SSI and Medicaid. The session also highlights upcoming legislative changes including the Age Adjustment Act and its impact on program eligibility.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Anna Mallett,
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts - Austin, TX
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7.
A View from HHSC (Mar 2025)
Leslea Pickle
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0.50
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7 pgs
Session 7 —24 mins 0.50
A View from HHSC (Mar 2025)
Gain insight on the topic of the termination of the special needs trust when a beneficiary passes away and there is a Medicaid lien owed. Hear the basics of the requirements of the Medicaid pay-back provision, how to contact the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to verify the Medicaid lien and obtain the lien payoff, and the process of settling the lien with the agency.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Leslea Pickle,
Texas Department of Health and Human Services - Austin, TX
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8.
Sole Benefit Trusts: What, When, and Why (Mar 2025)
Jennifer L. Coulter
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0.50
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Paper
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21 pgs
Session 8 —30 mins 0.50
Sole Benefit Trusts: What, When, and Why (Mar 2025)
Focus on the uses of Sole Benefit Trusts, including distinguishing them from other types of special needs trusts. It will include practical application, hypothetical situations, and sample language.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Jennifer L. Coulter,
Townsend Allala, Coulter & Kludt, PLLC - El Paso, TX
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9.
Buying A House Step-By-Step: A Roadmap for SNT Trustees (Mar 2025)
Anna M. Méndez, Margaret Svoboda
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0.25
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0.75 | 0.25 ethics
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Paper
(pdf)
8 pgs
Slides
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10 pgs
Session 9 —46 mins 0.75 | 0.25 ethics
Buying A House Step-By-Step: A Roadmap for SNT Trustees (Mar 2025)
Buying a home for an SNT beneficiary can be one of the largest and most consequential purchases an SNT trustee will make during the lifetime of the trust. In this session, review procedures, considerations, best practices, and potential pitfalls for SNT trustees as they navigate the home-buying process.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Anna M. Méndez,
Cadence Bank - Austin, TX
Margaret Svoboda,
American National Bank of Texas - Rockwall, TX
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10.
HOTMA (Mar 2025)
Annette M. Hines
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Paper
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482 pgs
Slides
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11 pgs
Session 10 —28 mins 0.50
HOTMA (Mar 2025)
This presentation covers recent changes to HUD housing programs that impact how income and assets are calculated for families. Learn about the new law and analyze the key updates to better inform your clients. Additionally, the session provides guidance on recertifying tenant income to ensure compliance with the updated regulations and current creative housing trends such as the use of Accessory Dwelling Units.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Annette M. Hines,
Special Needs Law Group of Massachusetts, PC - Framingham, MA
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11.
It’s 2025—What About SECURE 2.0 and the Estate Tax? (Mar 2025)
John R. Strohmeyer
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0.75 | 0.25 ethics
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No Materials
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1 pgs
Session 11 —40 mins 0.75 | 0.25 ethics
It’s 2025—What About SECURE 2.0 and the Estate Tax? (Mar 2025)
We have final IRS Regulations addressing Required Minimum Distributions as part of SECURE 2.0, and the estate tax exemption will be cut in half on January 1, 2026 unless Congress acts. This presentation focuses on what advisors need to know when planning and drafting, and what beneficiaries and fiduciaries will need to know when making decisions.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
John R. Strohmeyer,
Strohmeyer Law PLLC - Houston, TX
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12.
Special Needs Trusts Ethics Jeopardy (Mar 2025)
Mary Alice Jackson, Bryn A. Poland
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0.75
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0.75 | 0.75 ethics
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29 pgs
Session 12 —47 mins 0.75 | 0.75 ethics
Special Needs Trusts Ethics Jeopardy (Mar 2025)
Attorneys and trustees need to clearly understand their ethical obligations. Using the Jeopardy game show format, in this interactive session, the presenters cover various ethical issues encountered in a special needs practice, providing the answers while the audience provides the questions.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Mary Alice Jackson,
Boyer & Boyer P.A. - Sarasota, FL
Bryn A. Poland,
Mayo & Poland PLLC - Baytown, TX
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13.
SSA Regional Trust Leads Presentation Regarding SSI Trusts (Mar 2025)
Amanda Flood, Dana Marquez
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1.00
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28 pgs
Session 13 —63 mins 1.00
SSA Regional Trust Leads Presentation Regarding SSI Trusts (Mar 2025)
The centralization of SSI trust reviews business process celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2024. This session provides a look back, including improved quality, accurate and consistent trust determinations, and technical proficiency of employees. In addition, hear the latest regarding the legal opinion process, early termination, 90-day amendment period, and updates to the trust POMS.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Amanda Flood,
U.S. Social Security Administration - Dallas, TX
Dana Marquez,
U.S. Social Security Administration - Dallas, TX
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14.
Standards and Best Practices for Pooled Trusts (Mar 2025)
Stephen W. Dale, Haley D. Greer, John B. Henry III, Peter J. Wall
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0.50
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0.75 | 0.50 ethics
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17 pgs
Session 14 —42 mins 0.75 | 0.50 ethics
Standards and Best Practices for Pooled Trusts (Mar 2025)
This presentation unpacks the case study of The Center for Special Needs Trusts Administration to better understand what happened and explores the deviations from best practices in pooled trust administration. Also, discuss safeguards for beneficiaries with disabilities, standards for trust administration, and what checkpoints to look for in a pooled trust’s operations.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Stephen W. Dale,
The Dale Law Firm, PC - Pacheco, CA
Haley D. Greer,
The Arc of Texas - Austin, TX
John B. Henry III,
Law Office of John B. Henry, III, PLLC - Bellaire, TX
Peter J. Wall,
True Link Financial - Denver, CO
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15.
The Logistics of Resigning and Transferring a Trust to New Trustee (Mar 2025)
Scott Stebler
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0.50 | 0.25 ethics
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Paper
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28 pgs
Slides
(pdf)
13 pgs
Session 15 —30 mins 0.50 | 0.25 ethics
The Logistics of Resigning and Transferring a Trust to New Trustee (Mar 2025)
Changing trustees can be easy or complex, depending on the type of trust, the assets of the trust estate, and a variety of other factors. Discuss the process for changing trustees, as well as potential obstacles, risks, and pitfalls that could be faced.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Scott Stebler,
Stebler & Sulak, PLLC - Austin, TX
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16.
The 100-Year Special Needs Plan (Mar 2025)
Renée C. Lovelace
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0.50 | 0.25 ethics
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Paper
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31 pgs
Slides
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14 pgs
Session 16 —31 mins 0.50 | 0.25 ethics
The 100-Year Special Needs Plan (Mar 2025)
Most special needs trusts will be depleted long before the end of a beneficiary’s life. To protect a child with disabilities for life, a plan may need to consider a full 100 years. To protect an adult, a plan may need to consider 50 years or more. This session highlights projections, distribution plans, changes in circumstances, age-based changes, trustee continuity, administration costs, and funding (not wasting a penny).
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Renée C. Lovelace,
The Lovelace Law Firm, P.C. - Austin, TX
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17.
Don’t Modify that Trust: Reform It! When and How to Reform a Trust that Needs to be an SNT (Mar 2025)
David F. Johnson
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0.25
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0.75 | 0.25 ethics
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26 pgs
Session 17 —43 mins 0.75 | 0.25 ethics
Don’t Modify that Trust: Reform It! When and How to Reform a Trust that Needs to be an SNT (Mar 2025)
Address the basic requirements for special needs trusts, common errors in drafting, the requirements for reforming a trust versus modifying a trust, and the benefits for reformations.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
David F. Johnson,
Winstead PC - Fort Worth, TX
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18.
Medicare Primer Including Recent Changes to Part D (Mar 2025)
Pi-Yi Mayo
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0.75 | 0.25 ethics
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Paper
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33 pgs
Slides
(pdf)
28 pgs
Session 18 —47 mins 0.75 | 0.25 ethics
Medicare Primer Including Recent Changes to Part D (Mar 2025)
A review of the Medicare Program Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D including recent changes in Part D.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Pi-Yi Mayo,
Mayo & Poland PLLC - Baytown, TX
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19.
Let’s Not Fight – Drafting to Avoid Litigation (Mar 2025)
Angela Odensky, Erin W. Peirce
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0.25
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0.75 | 0.25 ethics
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Paper
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19 pgs
Slides
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5 pgs
Session 19 —45 mins 0.75 | 0.25 ethics
Let’s Not Fight – Drafting to Avoid Litigation (Mar 2025)
Explore drafting strategies to prevent litigation. A drafting attorney and a litigation attorney deliberate the right words, communications, and approaches to provide clear legal drafting, forestall conflicting interpretations and avoid future disputes.
Originally presented: Feb 2025 Special Needs Trusts
Angela Odensky,
The Law Office of Angela Odensky, PLLC - Bellaire, TX
Erin W. Peirce,
Leu, Peirce, & Olson, PLLC - Plano, TX