Books by Annette Hines

For many, estate planning is the same as updating a will. While this is only part of the process, when a loved one has a disability, estate planning becomes even more complex.

Estate planning for caretakers is about ensuring care, maintaining continuity, and safekeeping quality of life long after you’re gone. In When You Can’t Be There, Annette Hines shares her experience as an estate planner and special-needs mother to provide a path forward for security, safety, and peace of mind. Learn how to organize a will and create a durable power of attorney document. Add the vital Special Needs Trust. Discover public benefits, determine a Circle of Care, and create a plan that will extend beyond your lifetime.

Despite the technical details, planning is an act of love. Featuring insightful experience, thoughtful exercises, and an accompanying workbook, When You Can’t Be There is a must-read for protecting your loved ones, no matter what the future holds.

The world Annette Hines knew exploded when her infant daughter Elizabeth was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, a degenerative, life-limiting illness. Annette's joy quickly turned to apprehension and she knew nothing would ever be the same again.

Butterflies and Second Chances is the inspiring true story of a mother's special needs journey, and her struggle to secure the best possible life for her child in the face of bureaucratic resistance and marital crisis. It is a story of sacrifice, dedication, and the life-altering adjustments a special needs parent has to make when confronted with the unthinkable. But most of all, it's about love and an extraordinary mother-daughter relationship that flourished without words in the darkest shadows of adversity.

Annette and Elizabeth's powerful story provides hope, solace, and a path forward for parents of special needs children, and it will resonate with families everywhere.