Letter Of Intent

Protect Their Tomorrow, Today - Draft a LOI For The Ones You Care Most About

In Depth Look At What A Letter Of Intent Is

Think for a moment about the specific instructions or guidelines you give to your child or his or her caregiver when you leave for just an evening out or a weekend away. Then, imagine if you never came back.

 The individual you have entrusted to care for your child when you are gone—sibling, friend, relative, trustee, guardian, or organization—needs detailed information that only a parent would know about their child’s history and personal preferences. This information is contained in a Letter of Intent.

What Is A Letter Of Intent?

Understanding A Letter Of Intent & It's Importance

The special needs letter of intent is a document that you would store with your will, special needs trust, and other important legal documents in your estate plan. It will act as an instruction manual for someone who is supporting your special needs child after you are gone.

A family of four sits closely on a couch, smiling brightly, which represents the unity and forward-thinking approach of drafting a letter of intent for a family member with special needs.

The Purpose of The LOI for Those With Special Needs

The purpose of the letter of intent is to make sure whoever is now supporting your child with a disability, understands your vision for the child, as well as your child’s vision for their future. This ensures, your vision, for the child will continue after you are gone. The letter of intent will contain important contact information for your child, i.e. family members, friends, doctors, neighbors, care providers, and every other person important to your child’s life, including names, addresses, and phone numbers. It should also contain things like your childs government benefits (social security & special education) and hobbies and other interests that are important to your childs future. You should also include religious and holiday traditions that are important to your child.

A Letter Of Intent Aids In Preparing For The Future

The letter of intent is a critically important document regarding special needs estate planning for allowing someone (such as a family member or guardian to step in and provide support for your child with a disability immediately. This task can be overwhelming for someone who is not involved with your child’s day to day life. Whoever is required to step in to support your child with a disability after you are gone will feel confident about being able to support them with this instruction manual.

When A Letter Of Intent Comes In Handy​

Real Examples Of LOI Uses

The letter of intent is critically important after you have passed to ensure that your child, with a developmental disability is continued to be supported in the manner that makes their life most meaningful. Once you are gone, someone will have to come in and continue to support your child the way you have been, throughout the childs life. For someone without this type of experience, it can be a daunting task, the letter of intent will lower the stress on the support person as well as provide information on the exact support your child needs, and is accustomed to.
A multigenerational family enjoying quality time together at a park, embodying the values and aspirations detailed in a letter of intent.

The Benefits Of A Letter Of Intent

An LOI Draws Out The Details Of Daily Life

  • Have a list of important people and places in your dependent’s life
  • Outline services they need and have been receiving including health care
  • List vital information about your family and dependents, including personal preferences.
  • Create a database of whom to contact
  • Spell out the location of legal and financial documents

With A Letter Of Intent Give Insight Into Your Vision

  • Give a guide to the future caregiver, allowing them to make the best decisions for your dependent
  • Guide on fulfilling your dependent’s fiduciary responsibilities while maintaining a steady vision for their future.

Outline Your Plan With A Letter Of Intent

  • You should write out in detail your vision for your child with a disability. For instance for them to remain as independent as possible, to get employment, to keep contact with siblings and family, etc.
  • Share helpful information to jumpstart your estate and financial plans
  • Define expectations for the future needs of your dependents
  • Explain what is important and why

Practical Example Of When A Letter Of Intent Is Important

LOI Uses

If you should be in some type of catastrophic accident, or develop some debilitating illness, someone will have to step in to provide support for your disabled child. This document can act as a guide and instruction manual to provide all the supports and contacts so that your child can continue with the life that they have been enjoying under your support. This document will provide great comfort to the person who now has to step into your shoes and provide these supports.

Simple Steps To Protecting Your Loved Ones

Draft Your Letter Of Intent Today

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Choose what legal documents you need

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Step 2

Answer some questions

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We will email your completed documents in seconds

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We are here to help with any questions you may have

Attorneys typically charge in excess of $3,000 for these same documents.
Book a free consultation here to learn more about how my services can help you provide financial protection for a child with special needs.

Dont Wait, Get Your Letter Of Intent Today

The Letter of Intent also involves sorting out one’s feelings and defining expectations when thinking about the future of your child with special needs. Every child is unique, and this document will be unique: it should be flexible, clear, and personal. 

 The LOI may also serve a very important function while you are alive and well; it may be a catalyst to begin planning to achieve your vision for your child today.

Letters of Intent (LOI) are not legally binding documents; however, it is perhaps the most valuable document you can prepare for the future well-being of your child.

An LOI outlines, in detail, the people, places, and services your child receives and requires.

An LOI is a guide for future caregivers in making the most appropriate life decisions for your child, and helping to provide direction to their trustee in fulfilling his or her fiduciary responsibilities.

Other Documents To Protect Your Loved Ones

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Meet Tom Sannicandro

I am a special needs planning attorney and an expert in Special Needs Trusts and have been practicing disability law for more than 20 years. I am the father of an adult son with Down syndrome, so I know the challenges that families face when trying to provide a future for all their children. So if you are looking for an attorney for special needs trust, look no further. After years of the practice of law, I thought the best way to give back would be to provide special needs estate planning documents for families with a child with special needs in an easy and affordable way. That is why I created this 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation to provide families with an affordable way to protect their loved ones. Create your will and special needs trust now by clicking here or set up a free appointment with me by clicking here!

A letter of intent is a detailed list of instructions and information about your child, with a disability to help their support person when you are no longer around to support your child with a disability.
A letter of intent is extremely important for your child with a disability to make sure whoever is caring for them knows exactly what your expectations were for their future. It also includes contact information and medical care information to support your child with a disability when you are no longer available to do that.
Letter of intent for your child with a disability can be one of the most important documents in special needs planning you have to ensure they have a future when you are no longer available to support them.
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