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In this week’s episode, Sara welcomes attorney Caren Jenkins, founder of Nevada Legacy Law, whose journey to special needs trusts and estate planning was shaped by raising two neurodivergent sons. As both a mom and professional fiduciary, Caren breaks down the hidden pitfalls of traditional estate planning for families with disabilities, sharing real solutions that protect quality of life while keeping crucial benefits like Medicaid and SSI intact. During their conversation, Sara and Caren explore innovative approaches to trust administration, from Caren's monthly check-ins with beneficiaries to her willingness to make house calls – filling a vital gap in the market for trusts under $5 million. They discuss practical steps on timing your estate planning, choosing guardians, and keeping your plans current through regular updates. Whether you're a parent or caregiver, this episode provides essential insights that could protect your loved ones' future while preserving their quality of life.

About Caren:
Caren C. Jenkins is the Principal Attorney at Nevada Legacy Law, an estate planning-focused law firm with attorneys licensed to practice in Nevada and California. Her most distinguishing characteristic among her peers is her no-nonsense personal approach to her work.

Caren takes the time to know her clients well, promoting her services as “the lawyers who make house calls.” With the information, relationship and insight from the initial visit, she crafts highly customized, personal plans to assure clients that their wishes will be followed after their deaths.

Caren is the only Nevada member of the Independent Trustees Alliance (ITA), an international association of professional private trustees. She regularly accepts designations as a Successor Trustee for Revocable Trusts, Designee on Powers ofAttorney for Health Care and Financial Matters, and as the Administrator or Trustee of First-party and Third-party Special Needs Trusts.

Her 21 year-old son was diagnosed as on the Autism Spectrum at age 2. Her 19 year-old son was diagnosed as PDD-NOS and continues to experience severe anxiety to today. As a result of her sons’ diagnoses and her personal journey, Caren became aware of and informed about Special Needs Trusts, and, for the last 20 years, has immersed herself in gaining information and skills to serve Special populations.

It was this experience that led her to become a private fiduciary - particularly serving trusts holding less than the $3 million required by many trust companies. She identified a total lack of service providers for this group, and decided that rather than complain about it, she simply would DO SOMETHING!

Caren lives and works in Nevada’s capital, Carson City, with her 14 year old Chow Chow mix, Pocohantas Feathertail, fondly known as Po.

Connect with Caren:
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