Although we often do not like to talk about it, planning for the bad things in life ensures that you make decisions about your life and property. Christopher can discuss the options available and draft wills and other documents so that you can protect your partner, children, and family.

Wills
A will details the distribution of your property after your death. A will is one way to state to everyone very clearly who is most important in your life. Without a will, state law determines who gets your home, children, pets, and property; often, that means the closest biological relatives. A life partner could be unintentionally disinherited without the protection of a will.

In addition to a will, many same-sex couples protect themselves by careful estate planning. A living trust is often one good way to do this. In the living trust document, you name the persons who will receive your assets ("beneficiaries") and you appoint someone who will apportion the trust assets after you die ("trustee"). After signing the living trust document, you continue to own and fully control all of your assets.

Living Will
A living will instructs your doctor about your preferences for life-sustaining procedures in the event that you have a terminal condition, are unconscious with no reasonable expectation of regaining consciousness, or are in a persistent vegetative state.

A living will is different from the durable power of attorney for health care because you are not appointing someone to make life-sustaining decisions for you, but rather leaving instructions for your doctor or care provider.

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