For those that have attended our Pro Bono Supplemental Needs Planning Program presentation and wish to participate in the planning portion of the program, the following are the steps to complete the process.
These deadlines are for attendees of the September 23, 2023 presentation.
Step 1.
Submit engagement letter and first two pages of tax return
Deadline
September 30, 2023
Tax returns may be submitted at the presentation or uploaded at TaxReturn.rivkinprobono.org.
Step 2.
Complete detailed intake form
Deadline
October 7, 2023
You will need to click on “Register” in order to create an account and begin filling out the intake form. Please complete every applicable question on the form.
Step 3.
Schedule two meetings:
- 15-minute phone consultation
- 1-hour signing meeting
Deadline
October 11, 2023
The phone consultation must take place between October 25 and November 10.
The signing meeting must take place between November 27 and December 15.
Step 4.
Obtain change-of-beneficiary forms
Deadline
October 20, 2023
Obtain change-of-beneficiary forms for any life insurance policies, IRAs, and other retirement plans (such as 401(k) plans) that you have.
Step 5.
Review:
- Document choices
- Estate plan illustration
- Memoranda
Prepare list of questions and e-mail them in advance
Deadline
Before your phone consultation
The documents to review will be e-mailed to you.
Please carefully review these documents and prepare any questions you have for your phone consultation. If possible, please e-mail your questions to us in advance of your call.
Step 6.
Complete draft change-of-beneficiary forms and submit them to us to review with you during your signing meeting
Deadline
November 15, 2023
We cannot assist with any forms submitted after this date.
Using the instructions provided in our asset titling memorandum sent to you before your telephone conference, do your best to complete the forms and send us a draft copy so that we can review them with you at your signing meeting.
Note that this will be your only opportunity to obtain our assistance in completing any required change-of-beneficiary forms.
Do not submit any forms to the individual companies until after we have reviewed them with you and you have signed your estate planning documents with us.
Step 7.
Meet to review and sign documents
Deadline
November 27 through December 15, 2023
The meeting will take place at our office.
Step 8.
Update the titling of your assets and your beneficiary designations
Deadline
January 16, 2024
Although this is not a fixed deadline, our experience suggests that you will be more likely to complete this step if you adhere to this timeframe.
“An amazing program offered at no cost to help educate and prepare people. Jennifer and her team took time to ensure my wife and I understood the purpose of every document and were incredibly nice throughout the entire process.”
“This program removed a lot of the stress associated with future planning for special needs families. We are grateful for all the help and guidance in this process.”
“Our experience with the Pro Bono program was wonderful! The staff took the time to answer each of our many questions, and helped us navigate this process so smoothly. They were all so kind and caring and we felt that they genuinely cared about our family and our documents. We highly recommend this program!”
“We are extremely grateful to Rivkin & Rivkin for helping us complete our estate planning. Before our son was born, we knew nothing about the legal complexities of having a child with differing abilities. And when we discovered how much it would cost to get a special needs trust set up, it seemed impossible. The pro-bono program through Rivkin & Rivkin was excellent. They explained the estate planning process clearly, laid out all of the current laws, and taught us how we can best secure our son’s/children’s futures. We highly recommend this program.”
“This program has helped us to secure a better life for our child. We are so appreciative for this opportunity, as we have limited financial means to afford this type of service outright. Thank you, Rivkin & Rivkin, you have given us peace of mind, and so much more.”
