Navigating Special Needs Trusts in Maine: A Guide for Estate Planning Estate planning is a critical step for every family, but it takes on a unique and profound importance when a loved one has special needs. In Maine, as in other states, failing to plan appropriately can inadvertently jeopardize essential government benefits that individuals with disabilities rely on for their well-being and care. This is where a Special Needs Trust (SNT) becomes an indispensable tool in your estate planning arsenal. A Special Needs Trust, sometimes referred to as a Supplemental Needs Trust, is a specialized legal arrangement designed to hold assets for the benefit of a person with a disability without disqualifying them from critical means-tested government benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and MaineCare (Maine's Medicaid program). Without an SNT, a direct inheritance or gift could push an individual's assets above the low thresholds for these programs, leading to...