Our office is committed to providing representation to everyone, including LGBTQ+ families and individuals. We pride ourselves on offering everyone the advice that they need to make the best decisions for their unique needs.
Many people delay contacting our office because they believe that estate planning is only for the extraordinary wealthy, but the truth is that all families can benefit from establishing a comprehensive estate plan of their own. And those who identify as LGBTQ+ will certainly have specific challenges to consider because our legal system is frankly imperfect.
For example, even with same-sex marriage legalized in all 50 states, members of the LGBTQ+ community are generally less likely to be married. Families with unmarried partners can greatly benefit from the creation of an estate plan so there is a clear directive regarding where each person’s assets should transfer in the event of their death. Without this clear direction, the individual’s assets risk going through the state’s probate process which can be unnecessarily costly and stressful on your loved ones.
Or, a couple may have a child where only one parent is the biological parent. Establishing an estate plan also provides you the opportunity to explicitly designate both partners as your minor child’s guardians. It’s not something anyone wants to think about. The unexpected happens, leaving your child behind. As unpleasant of a scenario as it is to imagine, it’s especially important for both LGBTQ+ parents to be named as a guardian so there will be no issues determining who will raise your child in the event the biological parent passes away.
A well-designed estate plan can help you accomplish a number of important goals. Unique situations such as these make it even more important for LGBTQ+ families to have all the proper documents in place before illness or death occurs. Our firm can help you plan for your future and ensure your family is protected in the years to come.
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