As most people in same sex relationships know, you are now legally treated the same way as anyone else in a relationship.  Your unmarried or married status, by way of a civil partnership, means you have the same limitations and benefits everyone else.  This also applies to your children, extended families, divorce, parental responsibility, remarriage and all the myriad of issues that can beset the modern family. 

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It is incredibly important that decisions are made if something were to happen to one or both of you to avoid the burden of that decision making falling on family and the courts in relation to finances, assets and family who probably would not make the decisions you would like.  If it does happen, it is common for that to be stressful and contentious.  It all can be avoided by good planning.  Making a Will is a powerful planning document.  Arguably as important are your attorneys.

 

It may be particularly important to you that you decide what happens to each other's living arrangements, who looks after your children, where funds and assets should be directed and that your values are respected and whether you have particular wishes about the executors of your estate or who would be a power of attorney for health and finances and business.  These decisions can sometimes be harder than you anticipate but it is nothing to how hard it can be if something were to happen without planning. 

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Additional consideration should be given where couples are unmarried, particularly if they have children.  There will be a number of considerations surrounding that.

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You cannot assume that family members are able to step in to make decisions on your behalf as an attorney will be required to do that to avoid other organisations becoming involved.

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Please give us a call or send an email, or both, and and we can guide you on your way forward in organising your affairs.