Filis Law Firm - Houston Special Needs Attorneys

10/23/2026

A UTMA account or a special needs trust, which one protects your child's benefits at 18?

If you picked UTMA, that's the answer most people give, and it's the one that causes problems. A UTMA account transfers directly to your child as a lump sum at adulthood, which can disqualify them from SSI and Medicaid overnight. A special needs trust is built specifically to avoid that.

If a grandparent or relative already set up a UTMA for your child, that's worth a conversation before your child turns 18, not after.

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📞 713-462-1777
📍 Houston, TX
🌐 https://houstonspecialneedsattorneys.pulse.ly/6jr9xirtbm
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10/22/2026

Three documents, one plan. A special needs trust protects benefit eligibility. Updated beneficiary forms make sure old paperwork doesn't accidentally undo the trust. A guardianship or alternative plan covers who makes decisions once your child turns 18.

Missing even one of these can leave a gap the other two can't fix.

Reach out to us!
📞 713-462-1777
📍 Houston, TX
🌐 https://houstonspecialneedsattorneys.pulse.ly/itxofzvewu
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10/20/2026

POV: you signed your estate plan a few years ago, filed it away, and haven't looked at it since.

Laws change. Texas ABLE limits change. Your child's needs at 8 aren't the same as at 18. A plan that was right when you signed it can quietly stop fitting your family without anyone telling you.

If it's been a while, an annual check-in is worth an hour of your time.

Reach out to us!
📞 713-462-1777
📍 Houston, TX
🌐 https://houstonspecialneedsattorneys.pulse.ly/rh38j641gf
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10/19/2026

"We got guardianship approved. Are we done?"

Not always. Guardianship of the person covers medical and daily-life decisions. Guardianship of the estate, a separate filing, covers the financial side. Families who only complete the first one are often surprised to learn they still can't manage their child's benefits or assets on their own.

If you're not sure which one you have, or need, that's exactly what a consult is for.

Reach out to us!
📞 713-462-1777
📍 Houston, TX
🌐 https://houstonspecialneedsattorneys.pulse.ly/wgbvq1eibo
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10/16/2026

MYTH: you can start the guardianship process the week your child turns 18.

FACT: guardianship filings, evaluations, and hearings take time, and if you wait until the birthday itself, there's a real gap where you have no legal authority to make decisions for your own child. Families are shocked by this every single time.

This is part two of two. If you missed part one on the alternatives to guardianship, it's a few posts back on our page.

Reach out to us!
📞 713-462-1777
📍 Houston, TX
🌐 https://houstonspecialneedsattorneys.pulse.ly/x6kksovmbm
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10/15/2026

Your village matters just as much as your paperwork.

The families who navigate this best almost always have someone else in their corner. A sibling, a friend, another special needs parent who gets it without an explanation. Legal documents protect your child's future. Your people carry you through the day to day.

Drop the name or the role of the person in your village below.

Reach out to us!
📞 713-462-1777
📍 Houston, TX
🌐 https://houstonspecialneedsattorneys.pulse.ly/u2vlec79wo
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10/13/2026

A Texas ABLE account lets your child save and spend money on their own terms, without losing SSI or Medicaid the way a regular savings account would once it crosses the asset limit.

Most families have never heard of it. The ones who have usually found out from another parent, not from a bank or a caseworker.

Reach out to us!
📞 713-462-1777
📍 Houston, TX
🌐 https://houstonspecialneedsattorneys.pulse.ly/1wfja3ppxp
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10/12/2026

Same person handling medical decisions and finances, or two different people?

There's no universal right answer here. Some families want one point of contact for everything. Others deliberately split it, because the person who's great at medical advocacy isn't always the person you'd trust with a bank account.

We'll tell you which setup we see work best for most families we serve. Comment your guess first.

Reach out to us!
📞 713-462-1777
📍 Houston, TX
🌐 https://houstonspecialneedsattorneys.pulse.ly/gxsvlacxek
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10/09/2026

"How much does guardianship actually cost?"

This is one of the questions we get asked most, and most families are afraid the answer will be a number they can't say out loud. The real answer depends on a few specific factors: whether it's contested, how many hearings are needed, and what kind of guardianship your child needs.

We'll walk you through the real range on a free consultation, no vague ballpark over the phone.

Reach out to us!
📞 713-462-1777
📍 Houston, TX
🌐 https://houstonspecialneedsattorneys.pulse.ly/70evd6jxtl
Link in Bio

10/09/2026