TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIVING WILL!
CARRY ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS ON KEY CHAIN FLASH DRIVE.
(ask your attorney to prepare one)

Practice limited to:

Gay / lesbian wills and trusts, living wills, health care surrogates
Real property deeds and contracts
Partnership agreements / LGBT business succession plans
Parenting planning for same-sex couples / donor agreements
Partition actions / constructive trusts (joint property disputes)
Probate

Summer 2009 Observations:

1. More stay-at-home or home-based partners
2. More partners planning for Florida domicile long-term
3. Partners with horror stories recognizing that do-it-yourself can easily become "make-your-own" headache
4. More partners discussing finances and children before making the commitment
5. More partners not wanting to repeat what Terri Schiavo taught us
6. We are all working more and longer hours - life partners are seeing that when you hire a professional, the documents you initiated as a do-it-yourself program or on-line service finally get completed by a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction

Call 813.390.7787 to speak with an Attorney who limits his practice to LGBT issues.

PLEASE ASK YOUR GAY RIGHTS LAWYER WHETHER HE OR SHE ROUTINELY PREPARES  DECLARATIONS REGARDING THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF HIS CLIENTS' DEAD HUMAN BODIES.  IF NO, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER SEEKING AN ATTORNEY WHO UNDERSTANDS WHY SUCH A DOCUMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I serve all of Central Florida!  Evening and weekend appointments most welcome.

I limit my law practice to LGBT rights / issues.

LGBT wills & trusts:

*Express your wishes clearly
*Make sure your documents are accurate
*Execute documents legally - witnesses, notaries
*Store documents safely - do you know which one should be kept by your lawyer to reduce the chance of a challenge?
*Do not make changes to your Last Will by crossing out / initialing
*NCLR  says in 2009  "you should never rely on a pre-packaged trust ...... To protect yourself, it is essential that you consult a knowledgeable attorney who is familiar with the law in your state".


Joint property issues:

Florida's constitution prohibits the alienation of homestead when someone dies with a spouse or kids.  Are you sure that neither you nor your partner have kids or a spouse?  Sounds strange but I have had partners admit that they were never lawfully divorced from an ex spouse.  This can present huge problems with Florida homestead.  Bankruptcy of one partner can become an issue for the other with joint property.  Applying for government benefits can be affected.  Relay your particular facts to your gay rights lawyer when you conference with him or her for a professional opinion.  Partners often believe that rights of survivorship solves everything.  An experienced attorney can explain why not.

Gay parents & kids:

Are you or your partner thinking of getting pregnant?  Have you decided to use a known donor?  Do you know why it is a good idea to have an experienced attorney draft a sperm donor agreement for you?  Will both of you make health care decisions for the biological mom's kid(s)?  Are you planning to give birth in another state or country?  Will you seek a second partner adoption order in the foreign (non-Florida) jurisdiction to protect each other's rights?  Have you married your life partner in another jurisdiction without having an attorney draft documents for you?  If you truly love one another and plan on living in Florida please consult with an experienced gay rights lawyer to fully discuss these very complex issues.

No attorney client relationship exists without a written fee agreement.  None of the above may be construed as legal advice.  A licensed Florida attorney should be consulted to specifically review the circumstances of each life partner's situation.  Each person in a domestic partnership is entitled to be represented by their own attorney.  Legal documents should always be executed in the presence of qualified legal advisors.  Some original documents should almost always remain in the custody of a licensed attorney since Florida does not accept all documents for filing or recording.  Ask your lawyer to be sure. 

@ 2004 - 2009 Central Florida Law Office of Jonas Urba, P.A.