Austin Special Needs Planning

A. Melissia Riddle, Esq.

Melissia returned to her home-state of Texas in 2021 after practicing law in St. Louis, Missouri for over two decades where her practice centered on estate planning, probate, elder law, and fiduciary litigation with an emphasis on special needs planning, elder law, and alternatives to guardianships. Melissia began her career as a prosecutor and then moved into private practice where she focused on complex estate planning and fiduciary litigation with the objective of maintaining familial relationships through the development of well-tailored estate plans taking into consideration varying family dynamics.

After having a son with special needs, Melissia realized the unique and often overwhelming challenges faced by parents in planning for the care and support of their children with special needs, which go beyond special needs trusts and includes planning which extends well beyond the lifetime of the parents. Her passion is helping families with children or other loved ones with special needs successfully navigate the myriad of legal hurdles they face, including crafting specialized plans that not only protect their loved ones but also encourage and support their unique abilities as they strive towards their own life goals and aspirations.

Melissia is a frequent speaker on special needs planning on both the state and national levels.

Stephanie Long Weinstock, Esq.

Stephanie is from the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and went to college just over the mountains at the University of Virgina. She attended law school at the University of North Carolina (while remaining a Virginia fan). She has built her practice as an estate planning attorney here in Austin. She is committed to helping families meet their estate and long-term planning goals through compassionate service.

Stephanie brings her experience helping hundreds of families develop comprehensive estate plans they actually understand to the practice here at Austin Special Needs Planning.

Stephanie is also passionate about her pro bono work here in Central Texas as a volunteer attorney for the Veterans Legal Assistance Program and CANlaw Wills Clinic, providing estate planning for clients battling cancer. She has received recognitions from the Austin Bar Association and Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans for her volunteer work with Texas Veterans.

For Stephanie, a day does not start until she has had her coffee. On the weekends, you can find her hiking around Texas state parks or paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake.

In the News

Supporting Common Sense Legislation to Help Families with Children with Disabilities

Melissia was honored to testify in front of the Public Education Committee of the Texas House of Representatives in support of HB 1188 (The Caytlin Handley Act). The Caytlin Handley Act now requires school districts to refer students receiving special education services who have or may have an IDD to a Local Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Authority (LIDDA) for services, including under Medicaid waiver programs when the student is diagnosed (often around age 3) rather than waiting until he or she begins transition planning (around age 14). Providing parents with information early is vitally important so that they can place their child on the waiting lists and hopefully receive services a few years after graduation from high school instead of decades later. This small change will make a huge difference to these families.

More About the Caytlin Handley Bill

Caytlin Handley, whom the Caitlin Handley Act is named after, testified as a self-advocate for the first time in front of the Public Education Committee of the Texas House of Representatives on April 8, 2025, telling Committee Members she "just wants to help people." The Caytlin Handley Act does just that.

When Caytlin started transition planning through her special education system in school at age 14, her family learned that there were waiting lists for Medicaid waiver programs in Texas of up to 20 years. As a result, they immediately put Caytlin's name of the lists. Caytlin was on the waitlist from age 14 until age 31..

What Our Clients Are Saying

"We are beyond grateful for the incredible assistance that Melissia Riddle provided our family. As parents of an adult child with special needs, navigating the complexities of planning for her future seemed overwhelming. Melissia was a true Godsend—her expertise and guidance in updating our special needs planning documents, including the creation of a Special Needs Trust, have brought our family peace of mind. Thanks to her efforts, we now know that our daughter will be protected for the rest of her life.

From the outset, Melissia demonstrated exceptional professionalism and care. She took the time to answer all our questions promptly and in a way that was clear and understandable, avoiding the typical legal jargon that can be so confusing. What truly set her apart was her ability to communicate directly with our daughter, including her in every step of the decision-making process.

We know that every family’s needs are unique, but we wholeheartedly recommend Melissia Riddle to anyone seeking assistance with Special Needs Trusts, estate planning, or guidance on Social Security and other matters related to a disabled family member. Her dedication and expertise were invaluable to us, and we are confident she will offer the same level of support to others in need."

The Freeman Family