Hidden Risks in Special Needs Divorce

Special needs divorce cases contain hidden legal, financial and benefit related risks that most attorneys never see until a family is already harmed. This program exposes those risks, explains how they arise, and gives family law practitioners a clear framework for protecting government benefits, ensuring long-term stability, and avoiding malpractice-level mistakes.

Speaker

Bret Hortin Hortin Divorce Services

Topics

• How routine divorce terms (support orders, reimbursements, asset division) can unintentionally terminate SSI, Medicaid, housing supports, or long-term support eligibility
• The hidden interactions between child support, alimony, reimbursements, and means-tested benefits that create unexpected benefit loss
• Practical strategies for structuring benefit-safe settlements that protect vulnerable families while meeting legal and financial objectives
• The key risk categories attorneys often miss that lead to benefit disruptions, financial instability and long-term planning failures
• Real-world case examples showing how small drafting choices can cause catastrophic benefit loss — and how to avoid those outcomes
• A repeatable workflow attorneys can use to identify risk early and prevent benefit disruption in special needs divorce case

Section Chair
Don Emley, Emley Law Office

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Event Code: G260906
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Cost

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MCLE Notice
To receive MCLE credit, you must sign in during the designated MCLE registration period. This activity is approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California. BASF is a certified provider: Provider #103

Accessibility
People with disabilities and/or special requests should contact BASF regarding reasonable accommodations.