Frank & Kraft provides assistance with LGBT estate planning to individuals and families. If you are a lesbian, a gay man, bisexual, or transgender, you have legal issues that need to be addressed in order to provide for a secure future for yourself and your family. We understand what is involved with the estate planning process for LGBT individuals and can help you to make a comprehensive plan that addresses the issues that matter most to you.
When you get help from our Indianapolis LGBT estate planning lawyers, we can work with you to discuss your family situation, your financial situation, and your goals for the future. The personalized advice we offer to you is aimed at providing practical, affordable solutions that give you the protection you deserve over the course of your life and that protect your assets and family after your death. Give us a call today at 317-684-1100 to get advice specific to your situation and to get answers to questions including:
- What is involved in LGBT estate planning?
- Who should get help with LGBT estate planning?
- How can an Indianapolis LGBT estate planning lawyer help you?
What is Involved in LGBT Estate Planning?
LGBT estate planning used to be very complex because lesbians and gay individuals who formed partnerships did not have the option to marry. Marriage brings with it a whole host of estate planning shortcuts, including allowing your spouse to inherit tax free, even with a simple will. The nationwide recognition of gay marriage did not, however, solve all of the estate planning issues faced by LGBT individuals.
LGBT individuals face the same estate planning concerns as heterosexual and cisgender people do: they need to be able to protect themselves when dealing with end of life issues; to protect their assets from loss; and to protect their families. However, the lack of 100 percent equality means that LGBT individuals also face other challenges as well.
When you work with an experienced attorney, your LGBT estate planning lawyer can help to address the specific issues that matter to you. You may have concerns about retirement if you had to delay marriage and don’t qualify for Social Security or pension benefits under your spouse’s work record; you may have children you are raising who are not biologically yours; and you may have separately-owned property from before your marriage was recognized. You may also remain unmarried with a partner who you want to take care of, or may be concerned your family will not recognize your true gender and will instead plan a funeral and memorial based on your gender at birth.
Whatever your concerns are, there are legal tools to help you address them. Your attorney can assist with creating a will; pre-planning a funeral, providing instructions for guardianship of your children, using trusts to transfer assets, and so much more.
Who Should Get Help With LGBT Estate Planning?
Everyone should get help with LGBT estate planning. You should seek legal assistance if you have a family you care about; minor children you wish to provide for; assets you want to protect; or concerns about your legacy. You should also seek legal help with estate planning if you want to make sure you don’t lose your nest egg because of high nursing home bills or if you are concerned about who will make medical decisions for you at the end of your life.
Whether you are single, married, have children or are child free, you owe it to yourself and to the people who you care about to make sure you have an estate plan in place.
How can an Indianapolis LGBT Estate Planning Lawyer Help?
Frank & Kraft has a long history of providing assistance with LGBT estate planning. We have offered services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals since before the nationwide recognition of gay marriage and we continue to provide the comprehensive assistance that is necessary to protect yourself, your assets, and your family.
Our legal team will discuss your goals, establish an action plan for making effective use of legal tools, and work with you closely to find affordable and effective solutions. Our aim is always making sure that you and the people who matter are protected in an uncertain future. To talk with an Indianapolis LGBT estate planning lawyer about how to put a strong plan in place for your future, give us a call at (317) 684-1100 or contact us online to learn more about the assistance we can provide.
