Divorce and the Special Needs Family: Legal and Financial Challenges for the Modern Advisor

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This session explores the unique legal and financial planning considerations for families navigating divorce while raising a child or dependent with special needs. Divorce creates complex intersections between family law, disability law, public benefits eligibility, and financial strategy. Through real-world case examples and professional insights from both a financial advisor and an attorney specializing in special needs planning, this program equips advisors to guide clients with compassion and competence. Topics include child support, special needs trusts, government benefits, guardianship, and long-term care planning.

​Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this learning activity, you will confidently be able to:​

• Identify key legal and financial planning challenges unique to divorcing families with special needs dependents.
• Analyze the impact of divorce agreements on SSI, Medicaid, and other public benefits.
• Recommend appropriate use of first- and third-party special needs trusts in divorce contexts.
• Address custody, guardianship, and support structures that preserve long-term care plans.
• Facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration with attorneys to support optimal client outcomes.

Presenters

Scott Suzuki, JD

Carolyn Humphrey, RICP^®, WMCP^®, CLF^®, TPCP™

Bonus Content

CFP^® CE Credit

This content is eligible for one hour of CFP^® continuing education (CE) credit.

If you hold the CFP^® mark and would like to receive CFP Board CE credit for this content, please ensure your CFP^® ID number is entered here.

The College’s Professional Recertification Program (PRP)

This content is eligible for one hour of PRP continuing education credit.

To begin, click on the button below. As you move through the content, make sure to mark each page complete by clicking on the appropriate button, and then click Next Lesson at the bottom of each page. Once you complete the entire activity, the progress bar will show 100%.

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