The Enhanced Life Options Group can be the right choice to manage your special needs trust. Families in New Hampshire and across the country have selected not-for-profit organizations such as the Enhanced Life Options Group basically because:

The Enhanced Life Options Group was established in 1993. The directors consist of nine people most of whom have a person with disabilities in their family. Board members also have professional skills including law enforcement and banking. Board members have a variety of also been active professionally in the New Hampshire’s disabilities community for many years working for non-profit organizations including NAMI New Hampshire and the Parent Information Center.

The Enhanced Life Options Group is a member of the New Hampshire Brain Injury Association, NAMI New Hampshire, The ARC national organization, PLAN (Planned Lifetime Assistance Network) and the National Guardianship Association. Check us out on:

In 1999 the Enhanced Life Options Group launched a national program, its Special Needs Center. The program has recruited consultants drawn from established special needs trust organizations around the country who exchange ideas and consult with new special needs trust organizations. The Enhanced Life Options Group has been recognized on the national level as a special needs trust organization.

The Enhanced Life Options Group has received referrals from agencies, organizations, guardians, attorneys and other advisors since 1993, and has been named trust manager by the New Hampshire Probate Courts since 1994.

The Enhanced Life Options Group’s strategic partners include Jefferson Pilot Securities, Northeast Credit Union, the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund and Project Dollars & Sense.

The organization has been fortunate to receive a number of gifts and grants from generous private contributors.

The Enhanced Life Options Group is a 501(c)(3) public charity. The organization is bonded to the maximum allowable amount and is audited annually. It has four staff members and also utilizes independent contractors. No minimum or maximum asset balance is required to be eligible for services. Services are available throughout New Hampshire, and are available regardless of the specific type of disability. The organization’s brochure is available by calling (603) 472-2543 or (603) 524-5765, or writing to Enhanced Life Options Group, 15 Constitution Drive, Suite #169, Bedford, N.H. 03110. You can also contact the Enhanced Life Options Group website at www.elonh.org.

Specific personal services can be provided or arranged for people with disabilities, without duplicating what other organizations are already doing, such as:

At times we may be requested to provide additional personal services for our clients. We provide information, education and consulting services for people with disabilities whether or not we provide trustee services for a disabilities trust.

Since the beneficiary of a special needs trust may not serve as trustee, one or more family members may come to mind to serve as trustee. Often, however, no family member comes to mind who is available or the family member being considered is a generation or two older than the beneficiary, and may not be living when the beneficiary most needs the trust. Sometimes a family member wants to be involved but does not have the time to actually manage the trust.

The Enhanced Life Options Group can serve as trust manager subject to what is called a special power of appointment. This allows a family member to remain involved in a supervisory role, if desired. It might be a sibling who does not have the time to do more. The holder of the special power of appointment can also be a professional advisor. The Enhanced Life Options Group can also serve as trust manager with the trustee being a professional trustee, such as an attorney, accountant or other family advisor. It is also possible to name a corporate trustee such as an independent trust company or a bank with a trust department.

A trust may be drafted by an attorney involved with the family and then discussed with the Enhanced Life Options Group. Some provisions are suggested: a provision allowing pooling; a special power of appointment provision; supplemental needs language; a provision against alienation; and a provision concerning the trustee visiting with the person with disabilities. The trust can be individually tailored to the individual’s unique situation so long as it meets the various requirements of the law. The person setting up the trust or that person’s attorney can get in touch with the Enhanced Life Options Group and discuss these issues.

The Enhanced Life Options Group has also created what is called a master trust which people will be able to join using a joinder agreement. That trust is currently in the process of development and will available soon. When it is available, there will then be two different types of pooling arrangements available: (1) individually tailored trusts with pooling provisions; and (2) a master trust arrangement where the family does not create the trust, but joins a trust already created. In either case, each beneficiary’s funds are reserved for that individual.