Take Extra Precations if You are LGBT
Author: Dennis D. Duffy / Category: GLBT / Posted: 29 Nov 2012Despite overwhelming support for equal rights and gay marriage in national polls, when given the chance, the majority still normally votes against both ideas. That probably says something about the usefulness of polls, but it definitely should make members of the LGBT community consider what they should do to protect their rights and choices with their estate plans.
LGBT people are just like everyone else in every respect other than sexuality, but they are too often treated differently by other people and the law. This means that LGBT need to take extra care to ensure that they have estate plans and end of life health care directives. If you want your property to go to your partner, you need to make sure that you state that in your estate plan. If you want your partner to be able to make your health care decisions when you are not able to do so, you need a Health Care Power of Attorney that states that.
Planning for end of life scenarios does not need to be more difficult for members of the LGBT community. LGBT people just need to make sure that, unlike most straight people, they actually take the time to make the appropriate plans.
Duffy Law Office is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.
