Join the Special Needs Trust Foundation
The Special Needs Trust Foundation makes it easy to set up a special needs trust for yourself or someone else. We take the guesswork out of the process by providing you with our Master Trust and Joinder Agreement documents along with a list of attorneys specializing in special needs trusts.
Choose an attorney
An attorney must assist you in completing and submitting the Joinder Agreement. SNTF recommends that you choose an attorney specializing in Special Needs Trusts.
There will be fees incurred from your attorney for representing you. These fees may be paid from your special needs trust once it has been approved and funded.
Joinder Application Process
The 1st and 3rd party Master Trusts and the Joinder Agreements for each may be found by clicking the link below. We have also provided the Investment Policy so you know the investment options for your trust.
Joinder Agreement Approval
When the Special Needs Trust Foundation receives the completed Joinder Agreement, it will be reviewed by our Executive Director and Fiduciary for initial review. It will then be submitted to SNTF’s executive committee for final approval.
Funding the trust
Funding the trust is the last step. 1st party trusts are funded by the beneficiary, usually from an inheritance, sale of a property or a settlement.
A 3rd party trust is funded by someone other than the beneficiary. In many cases, the 3rd party trust is established by a parent, to be funded for their child with disabilities, at the time of their death. Having the trust set up during their lifetime, gives parents peace of mind knowing their child’s additional needs may be supplemented with the special needs trust.
Trustee Fees
The Special Needs Trust Foundation charges a nominal fee to administer a special needs trust. The fee structure is different for both a 1st party and 3rd party trust. Additionally, about six months after establishing the SNT, as long as the balance is greater than $10,000. Morgan Stanley is the custodian and investment advisor for the SNTF. An investment fee is charged by Morgan Stanley for their services. Since the trusts’ assets are pooled for investment purposes, the fee is lower than if the accounts were invested individually.
