FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME: THE TRUST NEEDED

Having adopted a baby boy nearly 18 years previous, the couple knew they needed a good estate plan as the child approached the age of majority.

With the knowledge of his adoption, the child had never been able to cope with the fact that "someone gave him up." So, he had severe emotional problems.

In addition, he had fetal alcohol syndrome because his birth mother was an alcoholic.

In the personal estate planning session, the man said, "In the seminar, I heard you talk about a trust to protect heirs from using the money unwisely ... and I knew that our son will need such a trust. So, that's why we are here."

So, the Spendthrift Trust, or Protect Assets for Kids Trust, is not just for people who might maliciously use up their money. It is also for people with real emotional problems. And it is an excellent device to use for people who may have an alcohol problem.

If you have a family member who has an alcohol or drug problem, you should seriously consider using a trust to protect your heirs from their bad habit.