Section 6: Planning templates
Future planning checklist
Before you see someone for legal or financial advice it is important to work out what it is you need (goals and plans) as much as possible.
Ensure that there is discussion on what the needs of each family member are now and in the future, but keep the focus on the person with disability. It is also important that the family member with disability is given the opportunity to provide as much input as possible.
Here are some ideas for the kind of things you may want to consider as a starting point. Be explicit when thinking through this checklist. It may not be possible for all the goals you identify to be achieved. Do not allow this to stop you planning and working towards a positive outcome for the future.
Issues for consideration
- What are the hopes and dreams of the person with disability and your hopes and dreams for them?
- How does the person currently communicate their needs?
- What accommodation will satisfy the needs and desires of the person?
- What is important to maintain their valued social relationships and interactions and what do they desire for the future in terms of relationships?
- What activities do they enjoy at present or desire for the future?
- What are their likes and dislikes (be specific and include food, music, environment, people)?
- What are their learning and educational needs?
- How can we, or others, support the person to achieve their hopes and dreams?
Information to take to the lawyer:
Your Information:
- Full name, address and occupation
- Full names and ages of children
- What is the situation in life (marriage, children, work status and occupations, housing) of your children without disability
- If you are setting up a trust to operate while you are alive, your social security status
- Your assets ($ approx.):
- house
- financial assets
- superannuation
- If making a will, how would you like to split your assets among the potential beneficiaries?
- If setting up a trust to operate while you are alive, how much assets do you want to put into the trust?
- Will your house need to be kept for the person with disability?
- Who would you like to appoint as trustees?
- Do you want to provide for pay for the trustees?
- Are there any particular things you want to give to anyone?
- Do you want to nominate who should be appointed as guardian or financial manager for your son or daughter with disability, if he or she ever needs one?
Information of the person with disability:
- Type and degree of disability, care and accommodation arrangements: at home, within a system, other service providers?
- How secure are these arrangements, how long are they likely to last?
- What degree of support is required and where do you expect that will come from?
- Social security – how much is that relied upon?
- Assets owned by the person with disability in his or her own name?
- Could he or she make a will?