Until same sex couples are granted the same rights as opposite-sex couples, we must find other ways to protect our relationships and families. If we don’t, the law may grant important rights and privileges to biological family members, to the exclusion of life partners.

Same sex couples should talk with an attorney about what documents can best protect them. The Law Office of Christopher S. Goeken will work with you to provide comprehensive protection in the following areas:

Health Care Proxy
A durable health care power of attorney, also called a health care proxy, allows you to designate another person to make medical decisions on your behalf. It can be a life partner or a close friend.

If a situation arises in which you are incapacitated and cannot make medical decisions for yourself, a health care proxy instructs doctors, nurses and others involved with your care that the person you appointed as your agent is the person who you want making health care decisions on your behalf.

Without a health care proxy, hospitals and courts will look to biological family to make health care decisions for you. A partner will have no legal right to make such health care decisions and can even be denied access to the hospital.

Christopher can discuss this important document with you and give you advice on extra steps to take to ensure that you decide who makes health care choices for you when you can not.

Durable Power of Attorney
In much the same way that the law does not recognize same-sex couples for health-related matters, nor does it for finances, real estate, or other matters. Christopher can provide you with this document that protects your finances, property, and real estate from unneeded court proceedings and gives you the power to choose who should make financial decisions if you can not.

Wills
The Law Office of Christopher S. Goeken can provide a will that states to everyone very clearly who is most important in your life and lets you decide who gets your home, pets, and property after your death. Without a will, state law determines this for you; often, that means the closest biological relatives. [Click here for more information on wills] In addition to a will, many same-sex couples consider trusts to protect themselves.

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