Why shouldn’t I just use a sibling or friend as the decision maker and trustee?
A trusted friend or a sibling can act as the decision maker or trustee. But, lives change. Sometimes hard decisions must be made regarding the beneficiary and many siblings would prefer to remain their brother’s or sister’s friend rather than handling the responsibilities inherent in managing a special needs trust. However, under a PLAN Special Needs Trust, a sibling or friend can be appointed as either a co-trustee or advisor who will be consulted on major shifts in the care and treatment plan.
