The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, recently released a new guide called "Life and Estate Planning for GLBT Americans," as part of its educational campaign, "7 Days to a Better Financial You." The campaign highlights the unique legal inequalities and hurdles facing the GLBT community with regard to financial, tax and estate planning issues. Federal law treats same-sex couples as strangers, thereby denying them the 1,138 federal rights, benefits and protections available to different-sex married couples. The 12 chapter guide covers personal planning; the basics of the estate plan; lifetime needs; your will; choosing your personal representative and trustee; your taxes; your business; your insurance; how to plan for passing retirement benefits; any gifts; and charitable giving. To download a PDF version of the guide, visit: http://www.HRC.org/estateplanning.
"Whether you are 25 or 75, single or in a relationship, planning now can protect you and your loved ones and ensure your wishes and intents are followed," said Timothy Mahoney, Director for Estate Planning at Human Rights Campaign. "All of us need to think about our future expectations and consider what we would want should death or disability interrupt or stand in the way of our expectations. Life and estate planning are ways of thinking seriously about the future and making smart choices that meet our needs. You do not need to have a large income or to amass great personal wealth; if you care about your partner, or are concerned about where your hard-earned savings may someday flow, then you should understand some of the basis principles of planning."
The release of the guide follows the Monday launch of HRC's "7 Days to a Better Financial You." The Human Rights Campaign is working every day to knock down the barriers to equality in Congress, statehouses, corporate board rooms, emergency rooms and communities across the country. Due in part to the efforts of HRC's Workplace Project, over 50% of the Fortune 500 offer benefits to same-sex partners, up from just a handful in 2000. After years of on-the-ground organizing by HRC and other national, state and local organizations, ten states plus the District of Columbia have civil unions, domestic partnerships, or marriage, and more are considering relationship protections. Furthermore, HRC is currently lobbying on the Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act, the Domestic Partnership tax bill and the Domestic Partnership Benefit and Obligations Act or DPBO.
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