Estate planning for homosexual couples has long been very complicated because the law refused to permit marriage among gay or lesbian partners. While this has changed and homosexual couples can now get the same legal protections as all other married couples if they choose to marry, the legalization of gay marriage does not make estate planning unnecessary. In fact, LGBTQ individuals continue to face unique challenges not only in taking control of what happens at the end of their life and after death, but also challenges in planning for a secure family and a secure old age.
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Kulas & Crawford provides estate planning services to lesbians, gay men, bisexual individuals and transgender individuals or all ages, all martial statuses, and all income levels. We understand the challenges that you face and the ways in which we can make the law work to protect your interests.
Our legal team offers assistance with LGBTQ estate planning in Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, FL and surrounding areas and we are committed to ensuring you have the control you desire over your future. Contact us today to learn about the assistance we can provide and to get some answers to questions you may have including:
- Do LGBTQ individuals still need estate planning help after the legalization of gay marriage?
- What is involved in creating an estate plan for LGBTQ individuals and couples?
- How can a Port St. Lucie LGBTQ estate planning lawyer help?
Do LGBTQ Individuals Need Estate Planning Help?
Everyone needs help creating an estate plan to protect their family members and to achieve a secure future. LGBTQ individuals, however, may be vulnerable in certain ways that others are not because sadly discrimination and inequality in the laws still exists despite many advances. You need to ensure that your estate plan addresses the unique issues that you may face, and that you make the law work for you. The specific reasons why an estate plan is so important will vary depending upon your situation:
- If you have a partner who you are not married to, your estate plan will need to ensure your partner can inherit with minimal taxes and that your partner is able to make medical decisions if you become incapacitated.
- If you have property you or your partner own separately, you will need to make provisions to make sure this property passes the way you want it to.
- If you have children who do not biologically belong to both you and your spouse or partner, you will need to ensure that you have made provisions for the care of children if something happens to you.
- If you are transgender, you will need to ensure that your wishes are respected regarding both your name and gender identity when you pass away.
These are just a few of the special issues which LGBTQ individuals may need to face when they create an estate plan.
What is Involved in Creating an Estate Plan for LGBTQ Individuals and Couples?
Your estate plan will be personalized to your specific needs. An estate planning attorney will discuss your goals for the future, will help you to identify the issues your plan needs to address, and will assist you in carrying out your plans.
The steps you take may include creating trusts to facilitate the transfer of ownership of property and avoid estate taxes (which is especially important if you are not married to your partner); creating a last will and testament to specify your desires for funeral arrangements and to name a guardian for your children; and creating a power of attorney to determine who will act for you and manage your assets if you become unable to act on your own. Your attorney will help you to determine how these and other legal tools can be used to help ensure that you and those you love have a secure future.
How can a Port St. Lucie LGBTQ Estate Planning Lawyer Help?
When you need an attorney who understands how the laws protect – and fail to protect – LGBTQ individuals, Kulas & Crawford is the firm to contact. Our legal team follows updates to regulations and has focused on exploring all legal tools aimed at helping members of the LGBTQ community to plan for asset protection, end of life issues, and incapacity issues. We can help you to make sure you have control over your future, that you protect yourself, and that you protect those you love. To learn more about the assistance we offer to clients in Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach and surrounding areas, give us a call at 772-398-0720 or contact us online.
