Collins Law Group offers assistance with LGBTQ estate planning. Our firm has been providing representation and advice since long before the nationwide legalization of gay marriage. We understand the issues affecting individuals and LGBTQ couples who are both married and unmarried. We offer confidential, compassionate, and knowledgeable advice so you can plan for your future and for your legacy.
When you need LGBTQ estate planning in the greater Los Angeles area, give us a call at (310) 677-9787. Our legal team will work closely with you to create a one-of-a-kind estate plan which specifically is targeted towards accomplishing your goals and meeting your needs. We can also provide answers to some of the general questions you may have including:
- Who can benefit from LGBTQ estate planning?
- What exactly is involved in estate planning for LGBTQ individuals?
- How can an Los Angeles LGBTQ estate planning lawyer help me?
Who Benefits from LGBTQ Estate Planning in the Greater Los Angeles Area?
If you are a lesbian, gay man, bisexual individual, or transgender person, you can benefit from LGBTQ estate planning. LGBTQ estate planning is similar in many ways to the planning done by all responsible individuals who want to protect their legacy and provide for their loved ones. However, LGBTQ estate planning is unique in that the issues specifically facing the LGBTQ community can be effectively addressed.
While the legalization of gay marriage has made LGBTQ estate planning easier by allowing all individuals the automatic legal benefits of marriage, not every couple decides to wed. LGBTQ individuals can also face other issues, such as family members who are not supportive of their expression of their true gender identity or children who they are raising who are not biologically their own.
An attorney with experience in LGBTQ estate planning understands both the general principles involve in the estate planning process as well as the specific legal issues faced by LGBTQ individuals. Collins Law Group has long been providing advice to LGBTQ individuals and we can help you to create a comprehensive plan regardless of your current marital situation.
What is Involved in the LGBTQ Estate Planning Process?
The specific process of LGBTQ estate planning will vary depending upon your family situation, your marital status, and the specific concerns you have about the future. Some of the issues which Collins Law Group may help you to address include:
- The creation of a last will and testament. This can be important to name a guardian for a minor child, which is essential if you have non-biological children in your family who have not been formally adopted.
- Funeral planning. Many people who are transgender with non-supportive family members are concerned about whether their true gender identity will be used on headstones, and in memorials or obituaries. You can create an advanced plan to ensure you are remembered as you wish to be remembered.
- Incapacity planning. You can create a detailed plan for who will make healthcare choices for you and for how all of your assets will be managed if you cannot speak up for yourself or manage your own affairs. This can be especially important if you want a partner to make health choices and you are not married to your partner.
- Estate planning. Your estate plan should make provisions to leave money to the people and causes that you care about. If you have a partner and you have not married, creating a comprehensive estate plan is especially important to facilitate the transfer of assets and to reduce the potential that estate taxes will be assessed.
These are just some of the many issues which your estate plan may address. When you work with Collins Law Group on LGBTQ estate planning, you can discuss your plans, goals, family situation, and wishes for end of life issues and for your legacy. Our legal team will help you to make use of all of the tools that are available under California law to ensure your wishes are respected, no matter what happens in your future.
How Can an Los Angeles LGBTQ Estate Planning Lawyer Help?
Collins Law Group has a long track record of offering assistance with LGBTQ estate planning to clients in the greater Los Angeles area including Inglewood, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and surrounding areas. To find out more about the personalized advice offered to individuals and couples identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, give us a call at (310) 677-9787 or contact us online.
