When you have a child with special needs, one of your biggest fears is what will happen to them when you’re no longer able to care for them. So, planning for their future care is a top priority. Creating a Letter of Intent is one crucial step you can take to ensure their future is secure. Your Letter guides anyone who may care for your child in your absence, ensuring they understand your child's needs, routines, and preferences.
What is a Letter of Intent?
A Letter of Intent is not legally binding but is integral to your child’s care plan. It provides detailed information about your child's life, including their daily routine, medical history, educational needs, and likes and dislikes. Think of it as a comprehensive guide that helps future caregivers understand how to provide the best care for your child.
Writing a Letter of Intent gives a voice to your child's unique needs and preferences. You help ensure that their care remains consistent and that caregivers have the information they need to make informed decisions.
Why is a Letter of Intent Important?
Creating a Letter of Intent is not just important, it's a source of relief. Knowing that your child's future caregivers will have detailed instructions and information can significantly reduce the stress and uncertainty about the future. Here are a few more reasons why a Letter of Intent is essential:
Continuity of Care: Your child has specific routines, and needs should be maintained even if you are not there to provide care. The Letter of Intent plays a crucial role in ensuring that caregivers follow these routines, which can be exceptionally comforting for your child and provide you with a sense of security.
Medical Information: The letter includes your child's medical history, current medications, and contact information for their healthcare providers. This information is vital in emergencies and for ongoing medical care.
Educational Needs: The letter details your child’s education plan, including their Individualized Education Program (IEP). This ensures that changes in caregivers or guardians do not disrupt their educational progress.
Personal Preferences: You know your child best. Including their likes, dislikes, and individual preferences, you help caregivers provide an environment where your child feels safe and happy.
Why Information Should Be Included?
To ensure the best care for your child, the Letter should be as detailed as possible. Here are the essential items you should include:
Personal Information. Start with basic information about your child, including their full name, date of birth, and any nicknames they prefer. If possible, include a photo. This section helps caregivers quickly identify your child and understand their essential background.
Medical Information. Detail your child’s medical history, including any diagnoses, allergies, medications, and treatment plans. Provide the names and contact information of their doctors and therapists. Include any medical insurance information and emergency procedures that caregivers need to know.
Daily Routine. Describe a typical day in your child’s life. Include information about their morning routine, meal preferences, school schedule, therapy sessions, playtime, and bedtime routine. This section helps caregivers maintain consistency in their child's day-to-day life.
Education. Provide details about your child’s education, including the name of their school, teachers, and any special education programs. Include information about their IEP or 504 plan and any specific classroom accommodations or supports they need.
Social and Behavioral Information. Explain your child’s social skills and any behavioral challenges they may have. Include strategies that have been effective in managing their behavior and helping them interact with others. This section can be invaluable for caregivers in providing appropriate support.
Likes and Dislikes. List your child’s favorite activities, toys, foods, and hobbies. Also, note any dislikes or triggers that may upset them. This information helps caregivers create a positive environment and avoid potential stressors.
Long-term Goals. Share your hopes and dreams for your child’s future. This might include educational goals, career aspirations, or plans for independent living. By outlining your vision, you give caregivers a sense of direction in supporting your child's development.
Making the Time to Get It Done
All this may sound overwhelming, especially if you struggle to get through each day. So it’s no surprise that the biggest challenge is not creating the Letter; it’s finding the time to do it. We understand this, and we're here to help. Having an accountability partner may help. I include the Letter of Intent as part of our planning process. So, while you’re planning for your child’s future without you, we make sure you get the Letter done. We’ll also help you keep it updated over time so as life changes, you know your child will get the care they deserve. If you’ve already created your Life & Legacy Plan with us, keep an eye out for our reminders to review and update your plan. If you know that you need to update your plan due to a life change, don’t hesitate to call us immediately. That’s what we’re here for!
We Help You Complete All Your Future Planning
We want to help ease your anxiety in any way we can. We may not be able to help your child feel more comfortable in crowds, but we can help you figure out the answer to the question, “What do I do about the future?” That's why we offer a personalized approach and a comprehensive range of estate planning services, including Special Needs Trusts, legal guardianship nominations, and a Letter of Intent to create a unique plan that ensures your child’s success. As your trusted advisor, we’ll walk you through all your options and set up your plan so you can have peace of mind about your child’s future without you.
You don’t need to have it all figured out already, and you don’t need to be a master of resilience. All you need to do is start. Book a call with us here, and let us help you take the first step towards securing your child's future.
Contact us today to get started.
This article is a service of Ralston Law, a Personal Family Lawyer® Firm. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session™, during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love.
The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.