A structured settlement is a financial arrangement that allows individuals to receive all or part of their personal injury, wrongful death, or medical malpractice settlement through future periodic payments that are tax-free (or tax-deferred for non-physical injuries). These payments are highly customizable, offering plaintiffs the flexibility to plan their financial future according to their specific needs.

Prior to 1982, funds from physical injury settlements could only be distributed as a single lump sum. Unfortunately, most plaintiffs quickly depleted their settlements soon after receiving them. To address this problem, Congress enacted the

Periodic Payment Settlement Act (Public Law 97-473). This law allows injury victims to use structured settlementannuities for part or all of the settlement. Structured settlement annuities offer guaranteed, tax-free payments, ensuring financial stability and security while reducing the likelihood of financial mismanagement or loss.

Structured Settlements are used to achieve a variety of important financial objectives, such as:

Funding a child’s education, Retirement and Estate Planning, and are often used in conjunction with Trusts to help protect

certain Government Benefits (such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and others).