Denver Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog

At our law firm, we support people with intellectual disabilities and other impairments and their families in a wide range of legal issues. We provide guidance and legal services to meet the immediate and future needs of those with disabilities and their loved ones. This process is called special needs planning or disability planning, which can address issues of abuse and neglect, estate planning, special needs trusts, money management and ABLE accounts, residential services, long-term care, guardianship and conservatorship, public benefits, insurance and others.

The concept of filial law dates back hundreds of years, most notably with the 1601 passage of the Elizabethan Poor Law. This is often cited as the first law to state adult children were legally obligated to provide financial support for their impoverished parents.

Echoes of that mandate persist today. Nearly 30 U.S. states have some sort of filial responsibility law, in which an adult child might be held responsible for an indigent parent’s nursing home costs. Where do things stand in Colorado?

In part 1 of this post, we talked about the importance of taking inventory of your digital assets and making long-term decisions about what you want to happen to each one, either before or after your death. We also discussed the kinds of digital assets that people have, some with monetary value, others with sentimental value and some with private content. Obviously, there are many personal considerations when you make decisions about this kind of property.

For parents of adult children with special needs, long-term security is often an ongoing worry. You want to make sure your child receives the proper health care, assistance with daily life and financial support – not just right now, but for many years to come.

Special needs planning provides families clear solutions and peace of mind. An ongoing services shortage coupled with an abrupt budget crunch make proactive planning more vital than ever.