Estate Planning for Same Sex Couples

• In the absence of a Will or other legal arrangement to distribute property at death, an unmarried partner cannot receive any assets and cannot administer the estate. The result can be lengthy delays and other problems. Individuals in gay or lesbian relationships need properly drafted Wills and estate planning documents more than straight persons. The probate laws generally provide if a person dies without a Will, their property goes to family, rather than a partner they had a relationship with for years or decades. 
        Moreover, without a Power of Attorney, they cannot assist a partner who becomes disabled. Your partner cannot access your assets to pay bills. If there is not a Living Will, marriage or civil unions, many hospitals deny admittance if someone is not a next of kin. The parent of the hospitalized partner may try to ask the hospital to bar the other partner from visiting. In the absence of a Living Will or other legal arrangement if you become disabled, your partner generally has no say regarding medical care or life support. Your partner cannot receive information on your medical status or medical care.
  We recommend preparation of Wills, Living Wills and Powers of Attorney.
  Joint Representation Agreement
• Confidential Will Questionnaire
• Will Format
• General Durable Power of Attorney
• Language for Creating a Springing Durable Power of Attorney
• Designation of Agent
• Parental Consent to Authorize Medical Treatment of Minors
• Nomination of Guardian for Estate and Person of a Minor Child
• Authorization to Consent to Medical, Surgical, or Dental Examination or Treatment of a Minor and Authorization to Deal with Minor’s School
• Priority of Visitation Language
• Client Estate Planning Checklist
• Notice of Revocation of Power of Attorney
• Domestic Partnership Agreement (Complex)
• Domestic Partnership Agreement, Separate Property (Simple)
• Domestic Partnership Agreement, Shared Property (Simple)
• Termination of Domestic Partnership
• Shared Parenting Agreement
• Nomination of Guardian for Adult
• Additional Clauses for Domestic Partnership Agreements
• Authorization to Release Health Information and/or Medical Records Protected Under the Health Information Portability and Accounting Act (HIPAA)