Special Needs Planning Plan. Protect. Prosper.

Special Needs Attorney in Grand Rapids

Whole-Family Disability Planning, Guided by an Attorney Grand Rapids Has Trusted Since 2006

Planning for a loved one with a disability involves much more than drafting a single document. Families need a coordinated strategy that protects government benefits, addresses long-term care, and answers the question every parent eventually asks: what happens when we’re no longer here? At Inhulsen Law, we’ve helped Grand Rapids families build those plans since 2006, and we treat each one as a whole-family engagement, not a transaction.

A special needs trust is one important tool. But a complete plan also touches SSI eligibility, Michigan Medicaid coordination, guardianship, trustee selection, advance directives, and more. Our role as your special needs attorney in Grand Rapids is to bring those pieces together into a plan that holds up across your loved one’s lifetime.

If your family is ready to start the conversation, call us at (616) 345-2810 or schedule a complimentary consultation online. There’s no pressure and no obligation.

What Special Needs Planning Covers

Families typically reach out when a child receives a diagnosis, when a loved one is set to receive an inheritance or personal injury settlement, or when parents begin thinking seriously about the future. Each situation calls for a different combination of tools, which is why we start by understanding your family’s specific circumstances before recommending anything.

A coordinated special needs plan may include:

Special needs trust (first-party or third-party): First-party trusts use the disabled person’s own funds, such as a settlement; third-party trusts are funded by family members and carry no Medicaid payback requirement at the beneficiary’s death
SSI and Michigan Medicaid coordination: Assets held in a properly structured trust are generally excluded from the strict resource limits that govern eligibility for these programs
Guardianship or conservatorship: Legal authority to make decisions for an adult with a disability who cannot make them independently
Trustee selection and guidance: Identifying who will manage trust funds and understand the distribution rules that protect eligibility
Advance directives: A patient advocate designation ensures that medical decisions can be made on your loved one’s behalf by someone you trust
ABLE accounts: A tax-advantaged savings option for individuals with disabilities that generally doesn’t affect SSI or Medicaid eligibility, though balances above $100,000 may suspend SSI payments
Letter of intent: A practical, non-binding guide for future caregivers and trustees describing your loved one’s daily routines, medical needs, and personal goals

John Inhulsen’s background in business litigation shapes how he approaches these engagements. He anticipates risks before they arise and structures each plan to address the specific vulnerabilities your family faces, not just the obvious ones.

Why Grand Rapids Families Choose Inhulsen Law

John Inhulsen has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers, and Inhulsen Law holds membership in WealthCounsel and the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. The firm has also been named among Best of Grand Rapids and Top Lawyers honorees. Those credentials reflect a sustained commitment to this field, not a general practice that occasionally handles disability planning.

What clients consistently describe is an attorney who listens, explains options in plain language, and helps families feel confident in the direction they’ve chosen. We present multiple approaches, walk through the trade-offs of each, and let you decide what fits your family. That’s how we’ve worked with every client for nearly two decades.

Start with a Complimentary Consultation

The earlier a family begins planning, the more options they have. If you have a child or loved one with a disability and aren’t sure where to start, we can help you identify what your family needs and build a plan around it.

Call Inhulsen Law at (616) 345-2810 or reach us through our online contact form to schedule your complimentary consultation with a special needs lawyer in Grand Rapids.

How the Planning Process Works at Inhulsen Law

Our process follows four stages: book an appointment, complete a short intake form so we understand your situation before you arrive, attend the initial consultation where we develop a plan together, and then implement that plan with our guidance at every step. The intake form matters because it lets John focus the consultation on your family’s actual questions rather than gathering background during your time together.

In a special needs planning consultation, we typically cover the beneficiary’s disability and current benefit status, the family’s financial picture, any existing estate documents, and your long-term caregiving goals. From there, we identify which planning tools apply and in what combination.

One thing we emphasize: a special needs plan isn’t static. It should be reviewed when your loved one’s circumstances change, when benefit rules shift, or when family assets move significantly. We build plans with that ongoing relationship in mind.

Planning Tools Families Should Understand Early

Families new to disability planning often focus first on the trust and discover later that other tools are equally important. A few are worth understanding before you get to that conversation.

Guardianship in Michigan

When a child with a disability reaches adulthood, parents’ automatic legal authority ends. Under Michigan’s Mental Health Code, a court may appoint a guardian for an adult with a developmental disability when guardianship is necessary to protect the person’s well-being from neglect, exploitation, or abuse. The process runs through Kent County Probate Court, and planning ahead avoids the scramble of filing after the fact. Guardianship decisions should be integrated into the overall plan rather than treated as a separate matter.

Patient Advocate Designation

Michigan’s form of healthcare power of attorney, a patient advocate designation, ensures that someone trusted can make medical decisions for a person with a disability who can’t make them independently. This document works alongside a special needs trust and belongs in any complete disability plan.

ABLE Accounts

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts let individuals with qualifying disabilities save money in a tax-advantaged account without affecting SSI or Medicaid eligibility, up to federal annual contribution limits. Balances above $100,000 may suspend monthly SSI payments, though Medicaid eligibility is unaffected by the account balance. ABLE accounts don’t replace a special needs trust, but they can complement one by giving the beneficiary more direct access to funds for qualified expenses.

Letter of Intent

A letter of intent isn’t a legal document, but it may be the most personal part of a special needs plan. Families use it to give future trustees and caregivers detailed guidance on the beneficiary’s daily routines, medical needs, preferences, and long-term goals. A trustee who receives this document alongside the trust is better equipped to serve the beneficiary well.

Trustee Selection

Choosing a trustee is one of the most consequential decisions in the planning process. The person or institution you select must understand the distribution rules designed to preserve SSI and Medicaid eligibility and must keep detailed records of all trust expenditures. We walk families through this decision carefully, because the right choice depends heavily on the beneficiary’s individual circumstances.

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Our Clients Say It Best

“The knowledge and professionalism were invaluable.”
“I have been very impressed with Inhulsen law services. The knowledge and professionalism were invaluable. John explained everything clearly and kept me informed throughout the process. I was very pleased with the successful outcome and learned so much from him. I would highly recommend this place!”

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“If you are looking for an attorney who will truly help you build the life you deserve, then look no further Inhulsen Law. As an attorney who has the opportunity to collaborate with John, I can attest to his depth of knowledge as well as his commitment to excellence. Whether you need assistance with the complexities of business formation and planning or building and estate plan to protect the future of your family, John will apply a creative and honest approach that will make you instantly realize you made the right choice hiring Inhulsen Law.”

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“Fantastic firm, very personable and receptive to what you’re looking for. Listened to my mom and I for her estate planning. Angela was also very attentive to our needs. Have a life long partnership. Thank you both!”

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“My wife and I had a very positive experience working with Inhulsen Law to update our Will and to put our assets into Living Trusts. The process is very thorough and they take a no-pressure approach to understanding your needs and will give you multiple options, explaining the benefits of each. They use a model where no question is a bad question and will break down what can seem like a complicated process into an easy to understand format. They take a very personal approach to getting to know you and your needs and we never felt rushed, pressured, or confused throughout the whole process. If you want an Attorney who values their clients seeking a long term relationship with you, you should work with Inhulsen Law.”

- Curt W.
“I had an excellent experience working with John”
“I had an excellent experience working with John on our estate planning. He took the time to explain everything clearly, answered all of our questions, and made what initially felt overwhelming into a smooth and stress-free process. We truly appreciated his attention to detail, professionalism, and ability to tailor the plan to our family’s specific needs. We now feel confident knowing everything is in order. We highly recommend John Inhulsen to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and caring estate planning attorney.”

- Becky L.
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“I had John draw up my will and was so impressed with how knowledgeable and kind he and his staff were. The process was thoroughly explained and it is a huge relief to have things settled for my kids. I definitely recommend him and his services!”

- Heidi H.
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“Answer to prayer! My husband and I finally decided it was time to put a Trust and Will in place. It was unnerving to think about estate planning because we did not know who to talk to, where to start or what to expect. Thankfully, after searching the internet for a law firm, we discovered Inhulsen Law. We were more than impressed with the outstanding reviews! Setting up an appointment with John was simple and quick. The entire process was explained to us in an uncomplicated way. In our first meeting with John it was apparent to us that he has a genuine interest in building relationships with people and helping them obtain their goals. John's character is stellar and his knowledge of the law is extensive. It feels good to have a law firm you can trust and someone like John you can reach out to and feel confident he will point you in the right direction.”

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“John's professionalism is first tier.”
“Recently John Inhulsen took time out of his day to call me when I encountered a legal matter over my head. John talked me through it and made me feel so much better about what I was facing. John's professionalism is first tier. Obviously, he knows and understands the legal world, all aspects. I recommend his team highly.”

- Ted L.

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Recognized Special Needs Planning in Grand Rapids

John Inhulsen has earned recognition from Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers, and Inhulsen Law holds membership in WealthCounsel and the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. The firm has also been named among Best of Grand Rapids and Top Lawyers honorees.

We’ve served Grand Rapids and surrounding West Michigan communities since 2006. That tenure means we know local courts, understand Michigan-specific benefit rules, and have guided families through situations like yours. When you work with us, you work with an attorney who is invested in this community and in your family’s plan.

Ready to Build a Plan for Your Loved One?

Families who plan early have more choices. Those who wait often find themselves reacting to a crisis rather than preparing for one. If you have a loved one with a disability and want to understand what a complete special needs plan looks like for your family, we’re here.

Call Inhulsen Law at (616) 345-2810 or contact us online to schedule a complimentary consultation with a special needs attorney in Grand Rapids.

SSI & Michigan Medicaid: What Grand Rapids Families Should Know

Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) rules apply uniformly across all states, including Michigan. To qualify, an applicant must have limited income and resources. The individual resource limit under current federal rules is $2,000, though this threshold is subject to change and families should confirm the current figure with an attorney. Assets held in a properly drafted special needs trust are generally excluded from that count, which is why how the trust is structured matters as much as whether one exists.

Michigan Medicaid, administered through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, applies similar asset limits and uses the same trust-exclusion rules for beneficiaries with disabilities. Families in the Grand Rapids area, including those in Kent, Ottawa, and Ionia counties, are subject to federal SSI rules and Michigan Medicaid regulations. Planning documents drafted under another state’s rules may not translate correctly.

Michigan’s Mental Health Code governs how a guardian is appointed for an adult with a developmental disability, and that process runs through Kent County Probate Court for most Grand Rapids families. Integrating guardianship planning with the trust and benefit strategy, rather than addressing it separately, can produce a more coherent plan and can help avoid gaps in legal authority.

Benefit rules change. ABLE account contribution limits adjust. Medicaid rules evolve. A plan built with an attorney who monitors those changes and reviews your documents over time is structured to protect your loved one from inadvertent disqualification as circumstances shift. That ongoing relationship is part of what we offer at Inhulsen Law.

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