Special Needs Trust Attorneys Serving Families In Texas
Last updated on October 14, 2026
You want your child to have lasting support after you are gone. But leaving an inheritance without proper legal planning can disqualify them from Medicaid or SSI. At Boon Calk Echols Coleman & Goolsby PLLC, we have guided East Texas families through this since 1998. Our decades of estate planning experience mean we will build your trust right the first time.
Understanding Special Needs Trusts In Texas
A special needs trust is a legal tool that holds assets for a person with a qualifying disability. Federal and Texas law strictly regulate how these trusts work and how trustees may use funds. The primary goal is to enhance your loved one’s quality of life while preserving their eligibility for Medicaid and SSI.
A properly structured trust must satisfy several strict legal requirements, including:
- Qualifying beneficiary: The trust must name a person who meets Social Security’s Disability definition.
- Supplemental purpose: Trust funds must supplement, not replace, government benefits.
- Trustee oversight: A designated trustee must manage all distributions under strict legal guidelines.
- Distribution restrictions: Certain fund uses can trigger an immediate loss of benefits.
Even one drafting error can cost your loved one their government benefits. Working with an experienced attorney ensures every provision meets current law. At Boon Calk Echols Coleman & Goolsby PLLC, our special needs trust lawyers in Longview, Texas, drafts every disability trust to meet the exacting standards these documents demand.
First-Party Versus Third-Party Special Needs Trusts
A first-party special needs trust is funded with assets the beneficiary already owns, such as proceeds from a personal injury award or an inheritance paid directly in their name. Because these funds already belong to the individual, strict federal rules apply. Federal law requires a Medicaid payback provision for these trusts, meaning the state may recover remaining trust assets after the beneficiary passes away.
A third-party trust holds assets contributed by a parent, grandparent or other relative, not the beneficiary. When properly drafted, these trusts do not require a payback provision from Medicaid. This is the most common trust for special needs planning in East Texas, giving families more flexibility over how remaining assets pass to other heirs.
Your Loved One Deserves A Plan Built To Last
At Boon Calk Echols Coleman & Goolsby PLLC, we approach every case fully prepared and committed to your family’s goals. As a special needs trust lawyer in Longview and throughout Texas, we are ready to help. Call our office today at 903-704-0592 or reach out to us online to schedule your free consultation.