Best Seller

Elder Law

PA Specific

4.46

Pennsylvania Medicaid Planning and Special Needs Trusts

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 7.2 Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 7.2 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 53 minutes
Michael Nalli
Adam Cohen
Edward Twomey
Drew Durbin
With Michael W. Nalli from Nalli, Elias & Associates, P.C. + 3 others
Recorded April 08, 2026.
Product ID 101725

Buy This Course

Course Includes
$389

OnDemand Video

Video Download

Course Book Download

Overview

From Eligibility to Administration

Medicaid and special needs trust planning requires a careful balance of strategy, compliance, and compassion. This course unpacks state-specific rules on Medicaid eligibility, asset protection strategies, and drafting special needs trusts. Explore essential SNT provisions, tax traps, and administrative missteps that can jeopardize benefits. Equip yourself with the tools to craft effective, ethical plans in that hold up under scrutiny - register today!

  • Discover methods for structuring client assets to preserve Medicaid eligibility under current rules.
  • Gain confidence in choosing the right type of special needs trust to best serve your client.
  • Draft custom-tailored SNT provisions that support long-term administration.
  • Understand fiduciary duties of trustees and learn how to prevent missteps in ongoing trust management.
  • Navigate tax treatment of special needs and Medicaid asset protection trusts, including key reporting obligations.
  • Clarify the ethical responsibilities when representing vulnerable clients and couples.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Medicaid Eligibility Rules and Asset Limitations in Pennsylvania
  2. Comparing Types of Special Needs Trusts and Their Uses
  3. Drafting Special Needs Trusts: Best Practices and Pitfalls
  4. Strategic Asset Planning: Trusts, Transfers, and Spend-Downs
  5. Administering Special Needs Trusts in Compliance With Pennsylvania Law
  6. Tax Considerations in Medicaid and Special Needs Planning
  7. Ethical Considerations

Related Topics

Product ID 101725

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 7.2 Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 7.2 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Medicaid Eligibility Rules and Asset Limitations in Pennsylvania

    1. Medical Eligibility Criteria
    2. Income and Asset Threshold
    3. Treatment of Retirement Accounts, Annuities, and Life Insurance
    4. Key Exemptions and Their Evaluations
    5. Look-Back Period and Transfer Penalties

  2. Comparing Types of Special Needs Trusts and Their Uses

    1. First-Party vs. Third-Party Trusts
    2. Funding Considerations
    3. What You Need to Know About Pooled Trusts
    4. SNT and ABLE Accounts: Roles and Limitations
    5. Choosing the Right Structure for Your Client

  3. Drafting Special Needs Trusts: Best Practices and Pitfalls

    1. Essential SNT Provisions and Accompanying Documents (With Samples)
    2. Payback Clauses and Trustee Authority
    3. Drafting Discretionary Distribution Standards: Dos and Don'ts
    4. Planning for Beneficiaries With Varying Needs
    5. Language That Invites Scrutiny: Common Drafting Errors

  4. Strategic Asset Planning: Trusts, Transfers, and Spend-Downs

    1. Converting to Excluded Assets
    2. Leveraging Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts (MAPTs)
    3. Promissory Notes and Private Annuities
    4. Effective vs. Ineffective Spend Down Strategies
    5. Handling Jointly Held Property
    6. Tips for Mitigating Transfer Penalties

  5. Administering Special Needs Trusts in Compliance With Pennsylvania Law

    1. Trustee Duties and Liabilities
    2. Recordkeeping Best Practices
    3. Avoiding Costly Distribution Mistakes
    4. Modifying or Terminating a Special Needs Trust

  6. Tax Considerations in Medicaid and Special Needs Planning

    1. Tax Classification and Consequences of First vs. Third-Party SNTs
    2. Special Needs Trusts as Qualified Disability Trusts: Benefits and Reporting
    3. Tax Treatment of Trust Income and Distributions
    4. Tax Traps in Joint Planning for Married Couples
    5. Reporting Requirements: Form 1041, K-1s, and Related Filings

  7. Ethical Considerations

    1. Who is Your Client?
    2. Ethically Dealing With Third Parties
    3. Diminished or Fluctuating Capacity Considerations
    4. Representing Clients With Disabilities: Ethical Duties
    5. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest When Representing Couples

Who Should Attend

This legal course is designed for attorneys. Accountants, tax professionals, trustees, other fiduciaries, and paralegals will also benefit.

Speakers

Michael W Nalli
Michael W.
Nalli
Nalli, Elias & Associates, P.C.
Adam J Cohen
Adam J.
Cohen
Mette Attorneys at Law
Edward F Twomey
Edward F.
Twomey
The Lynch Law Group, LLC
Drew Durbin
Drew
Durbin
Lynch Law Group, LLC
Speaker bio
Michael W Nalli

Michael W. Nalli

Nalli, Elias & Associates, P.C.
Michael Nalli

is the firm founder of Nalli, Elias & Associates, P.C., concentrating his law practice in the areas of estate planning, estate administration and related tax matters, elder law, guardianship, and real estate. He is a member of the Beaver County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and is certified as an elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF). Mr. Nalli earned his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from Geneva College and his J.D. degree from Duquesne University.

View full profile
Speaker bio
Adam J Cohen

Adam J. Cohen

Mette Attorneys at Law
Adam Cohen

works with clients across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, focusing on estate and trust administration, elder law, and fiduciary litigation. He has extensive experience handling complex guardianship matters and is a leader in representing disabled individuals, their families, and corporate fiduciaries in establishing and administering special needs trusts. Mr. Cohen also provides advice and guidance to personal injury attorneys and their clients on structuring and preserving recoveries for minors and disabled beneficiaries, helping them secure financial stability while protecting eligibility for public benefits. With a compassionate approach, Mr. Cohen prioritizes listening to and understanding his clients' needs, ensuring that each legal strategy is tailored to their unique circumstances. Mr. Cohen is actively involved in professional leadership. He serves as the treasurer of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Elder Law Section and is the editor of the Elder Law Section newsletter. He has previously taught continuing legal education courses on guardianship issues, and multi-jurisdictional personal injury settlement topics.

View full profile
Speaker bio
Edward F Twomey

Edward F. Twomey

The Lynch Law Group, LLC
Edward Twomey

is an attorney with The Lynch Law Group, LLC. He is in the corporate, and estates and trusts practice groups. Mr. Twomey understands that the estate planning process can be complex and confusing. For more than 12 years, he has assisted families and individuals in Pittsburgh in creating customized estate plans that fit their needs. Mr. Twomey also has significant experience in wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, guardianships, and charitable gifts. In addition, he helps business owners who are seeking to plan for the legacy of their business navigate the complex business succession planning process. Mr. Twomey earned his B.S. degree from Duquesne University and his J.D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

View full profile
Speaker bio
Drew Durbin

Drew Durbin

Lynch Law Group, LLC
Drew Durbin

is a tax and estate planning attorney at The Lynch Law Group, LLC. He brings a thoughtful, client-centered approach to helping individuals, families, and business owners navigate complex legal and financial decisions. Mr. Durbin's practice focuses on the intersection of tax, estate, and corporate law, with a particular emphasis on trust and estate planning strategies and related tax implications He is especially skilled at making intricate tax and legal concepts accessible. Whether guiding clients through business succession planning or securing tax clearance during estate administration, Mr. Durbin maintains a clear focus: delivering practical solutions with care and clarity. He understands that his clients are in uncharted territory, and his approach is to proactively anticipate their needs and lead with empathy. Mr. Durbin earned his J.D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he completed a certificate in tax law and served as managing editor of the Pittsburgh Tax Review. He is currently pursuing an LL.M. in taxation from Villanova University, further deepening his expertise in trusts, estates, and tax law. 

View full profile
Loading recommendations...

TOP FAQs

How many Utah CLE credits can I carry over?

Effective July 1, 2026, Utah attorneys can carry over up to 6 hours of excess Verified CLE credits from their current compliance period to their immediate next compliance period. Ethics or professionalism credits may not be carried forward.

In addition, attorneys licensed in another MCLE state whose principal office for the practice of law is not in Utah, may fulfill that state's mandatory CLE requirement, as well as completing 1 hour each of Utah-approved ethics and professionalism credits, for their compliance in Utah.

Browse Programs for Utah

How do I access my courses?
Courses are available within your account. Simply login to your account and click on My Courses. If you require additional assistance please call our Customer Service Department at 800-930-6182.
Do you have options for attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing?
Closed captioning is available for all Live Webinars. After you've joined the event room, you can enable closed captioning by clicking the "cc" button in the lower right of the player.
What happens if my course is cancelled?
In the unlikely event that NBI cancels or reschedules an upcoming program, each registered attendee will be contacted via email by a representative of NBI. Outreach to attendees begins as soon as NBI is made aware that a program will not move forward at its originally scheduled date and time.
Are multiple attendee discounts available?
Yes, the more people you bring from your organization, the more you save. After the first registration, each additional attendee receives a special discount off of their total tuition.
When will the OnDemand be available and how long will I have access to the content?
The OnDemand Video will be available to stream within 14 days of live broadcast date. You will have access to the content for 6 months in your account. If you’re a subscriber, you’ll have access to your course recordings until 7 days after the expiration date of the subscription.
What is included with my course purchase?
When you enroll prior to the live event date you will receive access to the live-streaming webinar which will allow you to interact with faculty in real-time. With each course, you will receive access to the content via OnDemand Streaming and the Video Download. Course reference materials are included with each course purchase in a downloadable PDF format.
Will I receive a certificate of completion?
Yes, we'll email you a certificate of completion and store in your account for any future reporting needs.
Can multiple people watch courses and request credit?
While only paid registrants can receive continuing education credit for attending, there are no limitations to the number of viewers at each connection.

Have more questions? Please Contact Us