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GayWill.com Allows You To Make Your Love Legal
Des Moines, Iowa, 09/10/02 -- Even though a wedding may not be legally possible, there is a way for gays and lesbians to
bind their wishes, hopes and sense of commitment into legal proof of the love they share.
Having written, undeniable proof that you want to share your possessions, your home, your health care decisions, perhaps
even your children with your partner is simple. It's a matter of getting your estate planning paperwork in order. Wills and legal
documents aren't just for old people and straight couples. Legal documents which spell out who is most important to you can
help you and your partner avoid additional pain during the most vulnerable of times. And it's easier to do than you may think.
Simply log on to www.Gaywill.com – it's perfectly legal, simple and completely essential if you want your wishes to be
followed.
"From a legal standpoint, you can have rights as a couple. You don't have to wait for the laws to change. All you have to do
is designate who makes the key decisions and who you want to give your assets to," says Attorney W. Kendall Brown.
An expert in estate planning, tax and business law, Brown is a member of the American, Iowa and Arizona Bar Associations.
He holds a law degree from the University of Colorado and has an extensive background in developing software. Together
with his brother, Keith, who is gay, Brown put his expertise to work to help ensure that gay and lesbian estate plans are legal.
He developed GayWill.com to create customized documents, including wills and medical and financial directives.
"You have to have a paper trail for your most important assets. Your property – even a home shared for decades – can be
taken away from you if your partner dies. Except Vermont, states just don't recognize gay relationships. Without a will,
there's no protection," said Brown. "Typically what does happen if there isn't a will or health care power of attorney, is that
the decisions are passed to family members. Unfortunately, that isn't always the best, especially if your family doesn't agree
with your choices. Without a paper trail, an uncomfortable, or even unfortunate situation can develop."
Gaywill.com meets legal requirements in all 50 states. Finalized documents are almost immediately e-mailed to users in a
format easily read by any computer. Instructions for properly signing and witnessing the documents are included. The
documents you create are stored on an encrypted site and can easily be retrieved for updating, which should be done any time
your life circumstances change, such as when you move to a new state, according to Brown.
"I really found tremendous benefits in doing these documents on Gaywill.com," said Sandy Brock, of Lincoln, Neb. "My
partner and I didn't relish thinking about wills, yet, it was one sure way we could protect ourselves and honor our union. It
didn't cost much, it's easily updateable, we got it done quickly and hassle-free from our home computer and all we had to do
was get the documents notarized. We actually made it part of a little private ceremony we had. Getting it done gave my
partner and I a real sense of commitment, even if it was just a few pieces of paper."
Using GayWill.com, users can easily create the four basic documents necessary for estate planning:
Will — determines who receives your property upon your death; who acts as guardian for your children; and who is
executor of your estate, overseeing the distribution of your assets.
Living Will — specifies your wishes, usually pertaining to life-sustaining procedures, if you are terminally ill or unable to
communicate your desires personally. A living will also typically indicates your organ donation wishes.
Health Care Power of Attorney — determines who can make medical decisions on your behalf. Without it, these
decisions default to your physician. A gay partner may even be denied access to your hospital room.
Financial Power of Attorney — determines who makes decisions about your financial affairs if you're incapacitated
physically or mentally. Without it, the courts will appoint a conservator, likely, a family member.
"Without proper estate plans, gays and lesbians likely won't find that their wishes remain intact. Yet, taking a few moments to
do the planning correctly can provide legal and loving proof of a relationship," said Brown.
More information, including an offer to test GayWill.com, is available at:
http://www.gaywill.com/special/press.html
This article courtesy of http://directoryestateplanning.com.
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