LGBT ISSUES

Your relationship is unique. So are your legal needs. At SWSL, we take pride in helping lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals navigate a changing legal landscape.

Maryland offers several new legal benefits to help gay and lesbian couples protect their relationships. These include the right to visit your partner in the hospital or to avoid paying inheritance taxes on the home you own jointly. Same-sex couples married in another state may now have their unions recognized in Maryland.

The experienced lawyers at SWSL can help you take advantage of benefits like these in a comfortable and professional setting.


ESTATE PLANNING

Even with these new protections in place, same-sex couples face special challenges that call for strategic estate planning.

An essential part of any estate plan, wills are especially important to gay and lesbian couples. Dying without a will would subject your estate to the “default” rules of intestacy. You and your partner would be considered legal strangers, and a lifetime’s worth of accumulated wealth would likely be left to someone else.

Even with a will in place, family members who are hostile to your relationship can challenge the document. The result can be an expensive legal headache at a time when your partner may be least able to handle it. Special will drafting and non-probate options can help minimize these potential problems. Advance planning will help make settling your estate as easy as possible.

Power-of-attorney documents for financial and medical matters are equally important parts of your estate plan. In times of crisis, they help to ensure that medical decisions and financial duties are left to your partner or another person you designate. Arguments among well-meaning family members are not uncommon at such times. Properly drafted powers of attorney can help resolve such conflicts by giving your partner essential legal rights and making your wishes clear.

A well-crafted estate plan takes all of the potential hazards into account. It helps to ensure that your partner and any children are provided for, that legal vulnerabilities are minimized, and that your legal rights are protected.

Call or email SWSL today to find out how we can help you.