Protecting Your Child’s Future

Ensure your child’s future is filled with care and support, without risking the essential benefits they rely on. We create compassionate, customized plans that protect their quality of life.

Ensure your child’s future is filled with care and support, without risking the essential benefits they rely on. We create compassionate, customized plans that protect their quality of life.

Protecting Your Child’s Future

Ensure your child’s future is filled with care and support, without risking the essential benefits they rely on. We create compassionate, customized plans that protect their quality of life.

If you are the parent of a child with special needs, you know the love, dedication, and planning that goes into their daily care. But you may also wonder: What will happen when I’m no longer here to provide that care?

Special needs planning is about giving your child the security, resources, and guidance they will need for a lifetime—without jeopardizing their eligibility for important government benefits.

We help parents create thoughtful, legally sound plans that ensure their children are cared for, financially supported, and surrounded by trusted people when they need it most. 

Why Special Needs Planning Is Essential

A traditional estate plan often isn’t enough for families with special needs children. Leaving money directly to your child through a will or trust may disqualify them from receiving government benefits like SSI or Medi-Cal.

Without proper planning, well-meaning gifts or inheritances could unintentionally put their future at risk.

Special needs planning makes sure your child has access to the care, services, and financial support they deserve—without losing access to critical programs.

Special Needs Trusts

The cornerstone of special needs planning is a Special Needs Trust (sometimes called a Supplemental Needs Trust). This type of trust:

 

Holds and manages assets for your child's benefit

Preserves eligibility for
government benefits

Allows funds to be used for education, therapies, travel, recreation, personal care attendants, and more—things that improve quality of life but are not covered by public assistance. 

Ensure your child is protected from financial exploitation.

By establishing a special needs trust, you can provide lifelong support for your child while safeguarding their independence and dignity. The cornerstone of special needs planning is a Special Needs Trust (sometimes called a Supplemental Needs Trust).

Choosing the Right Guardians and Trustees

Planning for a child with special needs also involves careful thought about who will care for them if you cannot. This includes:

Naming guardians who understand your child’s unique needs and can provide love and stability.

Selecting trustees who will responsibly manage the trust funds and work hand-in-hand with your chosen caregivers.

Providing detailed instructions about your child’s routines, medical needs, and personal preferences.

We help you think through these decisions so you can put trusted people in place and leave clear guidance for them to follow.

Our Approach

We know that special needs planning is not one-size-fits-all. Every child and every family is unique. That’s why we take the time to get to know your child’s situation, your family’s values, and your vision for their future. 

Then we design a plan that integrates financial, legal, and practical protections into one coordinated system.

Our goal is to give you peace of mind knowing that your child will be cared for with the same love and attention you provide today—no matter what the future holds.

A Gift of Love and Security

Special needs planning is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. It ensures that they will always have care, stability, and the resources they need to thrive. With the right plan in place, you can focus on enjoying today while knowing tomorrow is secure.

Special Needs Planning Checklist for Parents

Step 1: Establish a Special Needs Trust

What People Say

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Hamlet Tanahan profile picture
Hamlet Tanahan
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Nersesyan Law provided us with our Estate Planning. The process was very smooth and easy. Marianna was very detailed in explain every step of the way to make sure we received exactly what we were looking for. I would recommend her to all our friends without any hesitation. Not only she was knowledgeable she made us feel very comfortable working with her.
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Armen Melikyan profile picture
Armen Melikyan
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Highly recommended!
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Art Avenesov profile picture
Art Avenesov
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Working with Marianna Nersesyan to set up our family trust was an absolute game-changer. She was incredibly professional, patient, and made a complex process feel so smooth. Her attention to detail and clear explanations gave us total peace of mind. I’m beyond grateful for her expertise and can’t recommend her highly enough!
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Grigor Harutyunyan profile picture
Grigor Harutyunyan
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Highly professional services are being provided.
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Veronika Vika profile picture
Veronika Vika
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I had the pleasure of working with Marianna Nersesyan for my estate planning needs, and I couldn’t be more grateful. My situation came up last minute, and she handled everything with such professionalism and care. What really stood out was how thoroughly Marianna explained each step of the process — making something that could feel overwhelming so clear and manageable. I felt completely supported, informed, and confident in my decisions. I highly recommend Marianna and her office to anyone looking for an attorney who is not only knowledgeable, but also patient, attentive, and genuinely dedicated to their clients.
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Sorina Santos profile picture
Sorina Santos
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We are extremely pleased with the thoroughness and professionalism expressed by Marianna Nersesyan. She explained the process to us in easy to understand concepts and answered our questions. She also stood by her word and didn’t give us any false promises. We felt very comfortable asking questions and addressing any concerns we had without fear of judgement. Her friendly demeanor didn’t take away from the seriousness or importance of the topic. If it is also your family’s first time setting up a trust you can count on Nersesyan Law, PC to explain what works for you the best. Even after the trust was created we feel confident knowing that she’ll answer any of our questions we have in the future.
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Samvel Kamalmazyan profile picture
Samvel Kamalmazyan
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Working with Marianna on our estate plan was an exceptional experience. From the beginning, she took the time to really understand our family's unique situation and priorities. During our first meeting, she spent over an hour walking us through the entire process, answering all of our questions with patience and clarity. If you’re looking for someone who truly has your family’s best interests at heart, we couldn’t recommend Marianna and her team more highly.
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Anush K profile picture
Anush K
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We had a wonderful experience working with Marianna on our estate planning. From our very first meeting, it was clear that she genuinely cared about understanding our family's needs and goals. She created a space where we felt heard, informed, and completely at ease throughout the entire process. What really stood out was Marianna’s patience and ability to explain complex topics in a way that was easy to understand. We never felt rushed, and every question no matter how small was met with thoughtful, thorough guidance. If you're looking for someone who is knowledgeable, approachable, and truly committed to helping families plan for the future, we wholeheartedly recommend Marianna and her team.
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Arevik Mesropyan profile picture
Arevik Mesropyan
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I’m very satisfied with the exceptional service Nersesyan Law firm has provided to me.
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Susanna Martirosyan profile picture
Susanna Martirosyan
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I had a great experience working with Marianna Nersesyan to set up my trust. She is very professional, patient, and made the entire process easy to understand. I felt confident every step of the way and truly appreciated her attention to detail. Highly recommend for anyone needing estate planning help.