LGBTQ Estate Planning in L.A. County & Beyond
Preparation Is Key
While we celebrate the legality of same-sex marriage, it is critical that
your estate planning affairs are in order. You won the right to marry
but still face prejudice and discrimination. This is why having a comprehensive
estate plan is critical to ensuring your voice is heard, wishes are honored
and your loved ones are protected. Single, married or in a civil union
or domestic partnership,
failing to plan puts you and your loved ones in the hands of the courts. At Goldfarb & Luu, our skilled Tarzana estate planning lawyers will
assist you to create a comprehensive estate plan designed to avoid court
and unwanted outside intervention.
We proudly serve
Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties.
Legal Issues of LGBTQ Estate Planning
Whether you are single, married, in a domestic partnership or civil union,
a viable estate plan will make your wishes legal and enforceable. No matter what your marital status is, how wealthy you are or your age,
creating an estate plan is critical for you. Sadly because not everyone
embraces your way of life, it can more critical for you to have an estate
plan than for straight couples.
Imagine if your partner suddenly becomes incapacitated without an estate
plan and none of the accounts are in your name. You could not access those
accounts without a Durable Power of Attorney or a court order. It’s
now too late to create a DPOA because you must have capacity to sign,
so you’re left with court as your only option. This is true even
if you were legally married or entered into a domestic partnership or
civil union with your partner.
Similarly, what if your partner is ill or has an accident and ends up in
the hospital without mental capacity and the health care providers do
not value your relationship? Without an Advance Health Care Directive
(ACHD), you may not be able to make decisions?
What if the court appoints someone other than you as the Conservator? You
may find yourself shutout of the process of caring for your partner and
making financial and medical decisions that affect both your lives. Sadly,
these stories are far too common and probably not what you or your partner want.
Another common situation where you could find yourself shutout is if your
partner dies without an estate plan. Far too often surviving members of
LGBTQ couples have found themselves unable to make decisions for funeral
arrangements and last rites. When it comes time to administering your
partner’s estate, you may not have a say in how the estate is run
and the default laws of intestacy will determine how assets are distributed
among family members. A non-married partner will get nothing. This rarely,
if ever, honors someone’s wishes.
Goldfarb & Luu Will Assist You with Your Needs
Don't put yourself and your loved ones at risk by failing to plan your estate. At Goldfarb & Luu, we will zealously fight for you and help you avoid
the hazards of failing to plan as a LGBTQ individual. Our experienced
Tarzana estate planning attorneys are prepared to help you plan.
We proudly serve
Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties.
Contact us
today to schedule a
case evaluation!
