Wills for Gay & Lesbian Partners

WILLS FOR GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES WHO HAVE NOT ENTERED INTO A CIVIL UNION OR REGISTERED AS DOMESTIC PARTNERS "SAVE MONEY AND PROVIDE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES " By Kenneth A. Vercammen
http://www.njlaws.com/wills_and_estat...


As average Americans, we work 80,000 hours in a lifetime, or 45 to 55 years. In spite of all the resources and assets we earn, the vast majority of Americans with assets do not take the time to create a Will.

National statistics indicate that 80% of Americans die without leaving a Will. There are several reasons for this: fear of death; procrastination; and misinformation (people presume that only the rich or married with children need to have Wills). Whatever the excuse, it is clear that people would benefit from having a Will.

In the absence of a Will or other legal arrangement to distribute property at death, your partner cannot receive any assets and cannot administer your estate. The result can be lengthy delays and other problems. Individuals in gay or lesbian relationships need properly drafted Wills and estate planning documents more than straight persons. The probate laws generally provide if a person dies without a Will, their property goes to family, rather than a partner they had a relationship with for years or decades.

IF YOU HAVE NO WILL:

If you leave no Will or your Will is declared invalid because it was improperly prepared or is not admissible to probate: * State law determines who gets assets, not you * Additional expenses will be incurred and extra work will be required to qualify an administrator * Possible additional State inheritance taxes and Federal estate taxes * If you have no s Civil Union , spouse, or close relatives the State may take your property * The procedure to distribute assets becomes more complicated-and the law makes no exceptions for persons in unusual need or for your own wishes. * It may also cause fights and lawsuits between your partner and your family When your loved ones are grieving and dealing with death, they shouldn't be overwhelmed with disputes over property and Financial concerns. Careful estate planning helps take care of that.

THE FOLLOWING IS A SAMPLE OF A VARIETY OF CLAUSES AND ITEMS WHICH SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A WILL FOR UNMARRIED PERSON:

1ST: DEBTS AND TAXES 2ND: SPECIFIC BEQUESTS TO PARTNER, CHARITY, ETC 3RD: DISPOSITION TO PARTNER 4TH: DISPOSITION OF REMAINDER OF ESTATE IF PARTNER IS PREDECEASED 5TH: CREATION OF TRUSTS FOR PARTNER 6TH: DISTRIBUTION TO CHILDREN OR TRUST FOR CHILDREN 7TH: OTHER BENEFICIARIES UNDER 21 8TH: EXECUTORS 9TH: TRUSTEES 10TH: GUARDIANS OF CHILDREN 11TH: NO SURETY OR BOND REQUIRED 12TH: POWERS 13TH: SELF PROVING WILL 14TH: PRINCIPAL AND INCOME 15TH: NO ASSIGNMENT OF BEQUESTS 16TH: GENDER 17TH: CONSTRUCTION OF WILL 18TH: NO CONTEST CLAUSE A Will must not only be prepared within the legal requirements of the New Jersey Statutes but should also be prepared so it leaves no questions regarding your intentions.

WHY PERIODIC REVIEW IS ESSENTIAL

Even if you have an existing Will, there are many events that occur which may necessitate changes in your Will. Some of these are:

* Domestic Partnership, Marriage, death, birth, divorce or separation affecting people named in your Will *Significant changes in the value of your total assets or in any particular assets which you own * Changes in your relationships * A change in your State domicile

* Death or incapacity of a beneficiary, or death, incapacity or change in residence of a named executor, or of one of the witnesses to the execution of the Will if the Will is not self- proving

*Annual changes in tax law

MAY I CHANGE MY WILL?

Yes. A Will may be modified, added to, or entirely changed at any time before your death provided you are mentally and physically competent and desire to change your Will. You should consider revising your Will whenever there are changes in the size of your estate. Beware, if you draw lines through items, erase or write over, or add notations to the original Will, it can be destroyed as a legal document. Either a new Will should be legally prepared by an attorney or a Codicil prepared by an attorney signed to legally change portions of the Will.