UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Parents of special-needs children can discover strategies for leaving assets and resources for survivorship in "Planning for the Special Needs Person," a unique workshop offered at a series of locations through Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Sponsored by the Penn State Tax Institute, the day-long seminar provides useful information for parents, legal guardians and financial professionals, according to institute coordinator Anthony Gentile.

"Often, the parents or caretakers of a physically or mentally disadvantaged individual are immersed in the day-to-day care of their charge," Gentile says. "They forget to plan for the day when they won't be physically able to provide the necessary care. But, in many cases, that day is inevitable.

"If no financial planning has been done, often a lot of money is paid in estate taxes and transfer taxes after the death of the parent or caregiver; very little remains for the child or ward. The remainder of the estate could go to all the heirs, and the special-needs person must petition the courts so that someone else can take charge of the individual and manage their funds -- all very costly, and perhaps not what the parent intended.

"A special-needs trust can provide for the financial care of a vulnerable individual over time after the passing of their parent or caregiver; it can pay their bills and provide daily living expenses. This seminar helps them plan for the future of their special-needs ward by providing successful strategies for establishing a trust that will provide for this important task. It will help answer many questions that arise when considering planning requirements for the special-needs person. The legal rights of the individual -- including the educational responsibilities of the local education community and the various services available -- will be presented."

The one-day workshop will address such topics as:

• Legal Rights of the Individual -- benefits available for the special-needs individual, including the role and limits of Medicaid and the educational responsibilities of the local and state government.

• The Trust Agreement -- definitions of guardianships, and how they can be used in providing long-term support.

• Taxing the Trust and Individual -- which trust should be used, what assets are taxable, and to what degree.

• Administration of the Trust -- the bank's role, costs and services in maintaining the trust.

In addition to Gentile, instructors for the workshop include Julieanne Steinbacher, an attorney with Greevy and Associates Law Firm of Williamsport, Pa., who specializes in elder law and special-needs litigation; John Becker, Penn State professor of agricultural economics and law, an attorney and a fellow of the American Bar Association who has designed and presented many programs on estate- and business-planning issues; Thomas Taricani, CPA, managing partner of the State College, Pa., office of Boyer and Ritter Certified Public Accountants and Consultants; and Thomas D. Weldon, trust officer with Northwest Savings Bank in State College, Pa.

The workshop fee is $120 for the day, or $200 for attendees who also register for "Elder Care Planning and Law," a separate one-day workshop to be held on Thursday, Aug. 1. Attendees can register by phone at 814-865-8301 (fax 814-865-7050) or online at http://agtax.aers.psu.edu/. Registrants will receive a copy of the book, "Legal Rights of the Catastrophically Ill and Injured," by Joseph Romano. Participants may qualify for certification credits in taxation. Workshops begin at 8:30 a.m. each day, with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. Lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments will be provided. Special dietary needs can be accommodated.

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EDITORS: Contact Anthony Gentile at 814-863-6708 or TONYG@PSU.EDU.

Contact: Gary Abdullah gxa2@psu.edu 814-863-2708 814-865-1068 fax #205