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AchievingIndependence.com and the Dale Law Firm

thanks you for your continued interest and support. 

We hope you enjoy our educational and community services. 

925.280.0172

More than legal services for the disabled and their families,

the Dale Law Firm, PC strives to provide

Service, Support, and Community Enhancement

Service

The Dale Law Firm, PC is a full service estate planning office with a specialized focus on developing estate plans that involve persons with disabilities. 

Our goal is to promote independence while preserving eligibility for essential public benefits such as Special Needs Trusts and Limited Conservatorships.

The Dale Law Firm, PC believes that the best plan can be established with a "team" approach, working with our clients' advisors including their CPA, insurance professional or financial planner.  We are members of the Wealth Counsel Estate Planning Attorneys with over 1,000 attorneys committed to excellence in all aspects of estate planning.

Support

The Dale Law Firm, PC offers free, no-obligation workshops explaining Special Needs Trusts, so that you can decide if this approach is right for you.

As an expert in the field of disability law, Mr. Dale and his professional staff regularly offers courses to

the public, financial professionals, and other attorneys regarding Special Needs Trusts and Trust Administration. Steve specifically provides classes to his clients and professional trustees to instruct them in administering special needs trusts.  Many of these courses are accredited by the California Department of Insurance and the California State Bar providing CEU’s for professionals responsible for trust administration.

Community Enhancement

Stephen W Dale is a recognized and respected disability rights advocate.  He spends much of his time attending disability rights activities, including legislative hearings and serving on boards and committees of disability-rights organizations. He is a frequent

speaker on a variety of disability related topics across the country, and is the recipient of the 2007 NAELA Powley Award recognizing him as a leader in his community in promoting a greater understanding of the rights and needs of elders and persons with special needs and of how elder law attorneys advocate for those rights. 

How does estate planning protect

the disabled and their family?

Proper estate planning allows you to plan for yourself and your loved ones without giving up control of your affairs.  Your estate plan should allow you to plan for the possibility of your own disability.  It should give what you own to whom you want to receive it, the way you want them to receive it, and when you want them to receive it.  Your estate plan should save every tax dollar, professional fee, and court costs that are legally possible to save. 

A Special Needs Trust is a special trust that holds title to property for the benefit of a child or adult who has a disability. The Special Needs Trust can be used to provide for the needs of a disabled person and supplement benefits received from various governmental assistance programs, including SSI and Medi-Cal. A trust can hold cash, real property, personal property and can be the beneficiary of life insurance policies.

A Limited Conservatorship is a court proceeding whereby an individual or agency is appointed to be responsible for a developmentally disabled adult. These conservatorships are "limited" because the developmentally disabled adult retains the power to care for her or himself and/or manage her or his financial resources to the extent that the court finds that she or he is able to do so. The limited conservator cares for and controls those aspects of daily life that the court finds the developmentally disabled adult cannot competently handle.