Dearborn guide to third-party special needs trusts in Michigan. Preserve benefits and add quality-of-life support with a trustee you choose.
Building a Third-Party SNT
A third-party Special Needs Trust holds funds for a loved one with disabilities without disrupting public benefits. It pays for therapies, equipment, transportation, and quality-of-life items while Medicaid or SSI remain intact.
How it fits
- Use a revocable living trust as the hub for your overall plan.
- Name the SNT as a beneficiary on life insurance or as a sub trust inside the plan.
- Pair with a financial power of attorney and a health care power of attorney for lifetime decisions.
Dearborn steps
- Choose a reliable trustee and backup.
- Define what expenses the trust should cover.
- Keep receipts and a simple log for distributions.
For court timelines if assets were left outside the plan, see formal and informal probate .
