You lie awake thinking about what happens when you’re not here anymore—who manages the money, who protects the benefits, who makes sure your child is cared for the way you would.
You’ve Googled “special needs trust” a dozen times. You’ve gotten conflicting advice. You know you need a plan—but the complexity keeps stopping you.
You’ve found the right place. This is where families come for answers when the future feels uncertain and the stakes are too high to get wrong.
We don’t do general estate planning or cookie-cutter wills.
We do disability-related planning—every day, across Texas.
We protect benefits. We build plans that last. We give families peace of mind.
150+ 5★ Google reviews●Serving families across Texas
Your child is approaching 18 and you don’t know what needs to be in place.
A family member wants to leave money—and you’re terrified it’ll destroy their benefits.
You’ve been told “just put it in a will” and something feels wrong about that.
You’re the plan right now—and you know that’s not a plan.
You’ve been meaning to do this for years. Life keeps getting in the way.
What happens next.
1) Free 15-minute Discovery Call — confirm fit and identify priorities.
2) Paid Strategy Session — meet with an experienced attorney; get clear options, a recommended plan, and answers.
3) Your Plan, Built and Protected — we draft the trust, coordinate the full picture (guardianship, POA, ABLE accounts), and make sure everything works together.
If there’s immediate urgency (a settlement, an inheritance, a benefit review), tell us on the discovery call. We can move fast.
FAQ.
Can’t I just leave money to my child in a will?
You can—but can be the most costly mistake families make. Money left directly to a person with a disability counts as their asset. It can disqualify them from SSI, Medicaid, and other programs they depend on. A special needs trust avoids this entirely. But, the type of special needs trust is important too. We will review your specific situation and make a recommendation for planning package that fits your unique needs.
Will a special needs trust affect my child’s SSI or Medicaid?
No—that’s the entire point. A properly drafted trust supplements government benefits without replacing them. The trust pays for what programs don’t cover: technology, transportation, recreation, therapy, housing.
How much does this cost?
Every family’s situation is different. We’ll understand your situation first, then propose a clear scope, timeline, and fee—before you commit. Many families are surprised at how affordable it is relative to what’s at stake.
When should I set up a trust?
Now. There’s no minimum age. Many families start when a child is young and fund the trust over time. If your child is approaching 18—or if there’s a settlement, inheritance, or life insurance in play—it’s urgent.
My child just received a settlement. Do I need a trust?
Almost certainly yes, and time matters. Settlement funds received by a person with a disability need to be particular type of special needs trust to avoid disqualifying them from benefits. Call us.
What’s the difference between first-party, third-party, and pooled trusts?
First-party trusts hold the beneficiary’s own money (settlements, inheritances they already received). Third-party trusts hold money from parents, grandparents, or anyone else—this is the most common for families planning ahead. Pooled trusts are managed by nonprofits. And there are more types too. And even more way to set them up to achieve your family’s goals. We can cut through the noise and help.
Do you handle the broader plan—guardianship, powers of attorney, ABLE accounts?
Yes. A trust doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We handle the full plan: trusts, guardianship or alternatives, supported decision-making, powers of attorney, and ABLE accounts. That’s the difference between us and a general estate planning attorney.
We’ve been meaning to do this for years. Why now?
Because the alternative is the government’s plan—and you won’t like it. Without a trust, an inheritance can disqualify your child from benefits overnight. Without guardianship planning, the court decides who manages their life. The families who come to us wish they’d started sooner. The good news: it’s not too late, and the first call takes 15 minutes.
“We could not have gotten the results we sought without [Shields Law]. They were detailed and thorough and made sure that we understood the process every step of the way. We are so grateful for what they accomplished on our daughter’s behalf. Thank you!” — M.K., South Texas Client
“From day one [the Shields Law team was] honest and compassionate and that continued throughout the entire process. It was comforting knowing we had them in our corner with our child’s best interest in mind and personally felt we had the best of the best when it came to representation. I have no doubt we we made the right decision in choosing Shields Law Firm!” — J.C., East Texas Client
“The assistance we received was not only superb and highly professional, but it was also done with great empathy and a firm understanding of our situation. Attorneys took great care to review our case carefully, to answer all of our questions, and offer alternatives based on that research. We highly recommend Shields Law Firm and their attorneys.” — A.M., Greater Houston Area Client
“Andrea and Kevin were both amazing throughout the whole process of advocating for son. Andrea was super responsive, always available when I needed, she would call even if it was just to check on me. I am so glad I found them and highly recommend them to anyone needing special education legal assistance.” — C.H., San Antonio Area Client
“Kevin and his team are very knowledgeable. Would recommend to anyone looking for a special education attorney.” — S.H., Client
“Shields law helped my daughter get the care that she deserves in school and is in such a better place now. I am very appreciative of there services.” — D.M., Client
“[They] are so knowledgeable. They are both honest and truly care about getting the best results for their clients. I would recommend them to anyone.” — S.P., Client
“Shields Law Firm exhibits the many admirable traits that one would hope to find when seeking an attorney to help with the legalities of special education. There is a reason that they come highly recommended.” — D.S., Client
“We are so grateful for how Shields Law Firm represented our son and handled our case. They are very professional and truly care about the families they work with.” — M.P., Client
“This Lawfirm went over and beyond for our family. My son had been neglected by the school district for several years and I didn’t know what to do anymore. I called Shield’s Law firm and told them my story and they were so eager to help. I’m so glad I had them on our side. My son went from never passing any of his classes to now making A’s and B’s. His confidence level has jumped up so much in the last couple of months. Thank y’all so much for everything y’all did for us. We greatly, greatly appreciate it!!!! ❤️” — J.T., Client
“Working with Shields Law Firm completely turned our experience with public school around. They gave us the tools we needed to advocate for our son, and helped us navigate the sometimes treacherous school system. We needed someone who would listen and know appropriate and ethical ways to respond to finally get the help we needed. We’ll forever be grateful for this firm.” — C.L., Client
“I couldn’t be happier with the legal team or the outcome they produced with our student. I was hesitant to hire a professional, because I make it a point to be well versed in district policy and procedure. After hitting a ‘good old boy’ wall, I was fortunate to find Shield’s Law Firm. Jennifer and Andrea were amazing to work with! We have struggled with districts for years….and now the struggle is over! If you ‘think’ you may need legal assistance…you do. This is an excellent firm that is straight forward with their approach and keeps you appraised of all possible outcomes and remedies. We couldn’t be happier (neither can our student)!” — K.H., Client
“We can’t begin to say how appreciative we are to Andrea and Shields law firm for helping us though an incredibly difficult time. Andrea was the perfect balance for our family and we truly can’t express how grateful we are. Recommend 1000 times over!!” — L., Client
“Blown away by the care and detail that went into this process. Andrea went above and beyond in representing us and despite how difficult it is to go this route as parents, it was necessary and we couldn’t have picked a better firm to advocate for us, fight for us, and represent us. Our kiddo is safe, in better hands, and that was all thanks to passionate and kind people working at this firm. With a sincere and grateful heart, we give 10/10.” — M.S., Client
“It is never easy to have to navigate the trenches of special education for your children but Shields Law Firm makes the journey so much easier. They are kind, understanding, extremely knowledgable and very available with any and all questions. Andrea is TOP Notch and one of the most empathetic individuals you would meet. She spends quality time with you to ensure that you are aware of your rights and have all the information needed to make an informed decision. Kevin is extremely knowledgable of the law and the BEST path to move forward in a situation. I would highly recommend this law firm if you are in need of help navigating the channels of special education for your child.” — L.A., Client
“We recently needed to use the Shields Law firm. Wow, we completely didn’t understand how uneducated we were as parents about the rights for our son until hiring them. They careful walked us through the processes, help us understand every step, and help us become ‘empowered advocates’ for our son! Our only regret is that we didn’t hire them much sooner! They always put our child’s needs first. Our child’s education is now on the right path due to all their help. They are amazing and we highly, highly recommend them, especially Andrea Koch!” — D.N., Client
150+ Five-Star Google Reviews
I am beyond grateful to have found Shields Law Firm. The level of professionalism, compassion, understanding that my son and I received was overwhelming in every good way! They are not only knowledgeable on the issues dealing with children who learn differently…
Brenda B., Client
I had the opportunity to work with attorneys Kevin Shields and Andrea Koch. They are both good listeners and compassionate. Both attorneys helped me understand our legal rights and allowed me to make an informed decision. The communication was strong and they were both very responsive…
Jen F., Client
If you need help fighting for your children please reach out to the Shields law firm. They are very efficient. They are also very understanding. Everything was done promptly. Communication was 5 stars. I was very overwhelmed with this process but Andrea and the team was very supportive…
Lakeisha P., Client
I appreciate Kevin, Nicole, and Andrea for assisting me with options to help my child receive help. Their assistance and professionalism has given me confidence on taking my next steps. I appreciate their experience and would recommend them to anyone…
I am beyond grateful to have found Shields Law Firm. The level of professionalism, compassion, understanding that my son and I received was overwhelming in every good way! They are not only knowledgeable on the issues dealing with children who learn differently…
Brenda B., Client
I had the opportunity to work with attorneys Kevin Shields and Andrea Koch. They are both good listeners and compassionate. Both attorneys helped me understand our legal rights and allowed me to make an informed decision. The communication was strong and they were both very responsive…
Jen F., Client
If you need help fighting for your children please reach out to the Shields law firm. They are very efficient. They are also very understanding. Everything was done promptly. Communication was 5 stars. I was very overwhelmed with this process but Andrea and the team was very supportive…
Lakeisha P., Client
I appreciate Kevin, Nicole, and Andrea for assisting me with options to help my child receive help. Their assistance and professionalism has given me confidence on taking my next steps. I appreciate their experience and would recommend them to anyone…
