If you’re part of a same-sex union, you already know that June is Gay Pride Month. Which makes it a good time to take stock of the gains achieved by the Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender community…as well as the battlefronts still remaining.
But if you’re a senior or Boomer, and a member of the LGBT community, it’s not only a good time to take stock – it’s a vital time. As you enter the time of your life when estate planning becomes necessary, you should know your rights.
Things are fairly confusing, to say the least. Last year, New York became the sixth state to legalize gay marriage. But California – supposedly “liberal” – voted down such a law. According to polls, a slim majority of Americans support gay marriage. That’s a drastic turnaround from a poll taken just six years ago, when only 36% of Americans thought gay marriage should be legal.
In addition, of course, the President of the United States came down on the side of gay marriage last month…possibly swaying a few people in the process.
Yet, gay marriage has been on the ballot in 32 states…and has been voted down in every one. And one of those states is Florida. So there may be something of a disconnect between what people say to pollsters, and how they’re pulling the lever. We may find out just how much of a disconnect exists this fall, when Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington state will vote on the measure.
So what is the state of same-sex marriages in America? Right now, “constantly evolving” seems like the only real answer. But if you’re involved in a same-sex relationship, and you’re thinking about planning your estate, you don’t have the luxury of waiting until everything is clear. You have to act now – because the same documents that can be fairly simple to create for a straight couple can be a very difficult process for a same-sex couple!
At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we practice Elder Law – all types of Elder Law. Over the past 33 years, we’ve helped many same-sex couples create comprehensive estate plans that protect their interests, and fulfill their wishes…with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset protection, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA.
We can help. And we’re just a phone call away.
