--- title: "Same-Sex Marriage: Estate Planning Tools to Consider" description: Millennials are estate plannings’ next major demographic. However, to acquire them as clients, estate planners must overcome several hurdles. The biggest hurdles attorneys face are the misconception that estate planning is only for older/wealthier individuals, and the weariness millennials have of spending money on things they deem unnecessary. image: https://info.wealthcounsel.com/hubfs/Millenial-Skepticism.png --- [![WealthCounsel](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/WealthCounsel%20Logo%202018/WC-Flag-Logo-Rev.png?width=800&height=93&name=WC-Flag-Logo-Rev.png "WealthCounsel")](https://www.wealthcounsel.com/) ![WealthCounsel Blog](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Header.png?width=2800&name=Blog_Header.png "WealthCounsel Blog") # [Same-Sex Marriage: Estate Planning Tools to Consider](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/blog/same-sex-marriage-estate-planning-tools-to-consider) Jun 22, 2018 6:00:00 AM ![Same-Sex-Marriage_blog](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Same-Sex-Marriage_blog.png?width=842&name=Same-Sex-Marriage_blog.png) Thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision in [*Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)*](https://www.wealthcounsel.com/articles/2015/estate-planning-for-same-sex-couples-after-obergefell-v-hodges), same-sex marriages now enjoy the same legal rights as heterosexual marriages in the United States. However, as same-sex couples still face [unique estate planning issues](https://www.wealthcounsel.com/articles/2016/planning-for-same-sex-couples-in-a-marriage-equality-world), attorneys should be wary of assuming they can plan for them in the same way as their heterosexual counterparts. While more Americans support gay marriage today than ever before, a [Pew Research Survey](http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/) shows that 4 in 10 LGBTQ adults have been rejected by a close family member or friend due to their sexual orientation. Unsurprisingly, [same-sex couple’s](https://www.wealthcounsel.com/articles/2015/estate-planning-for-same-sex-couples-from-cottage-to-mainstream) estate plans tend to be more vulnerable to sabotage by unsupportive family members. Whether that means having their wills contested because a family member may not recognize the validity of their relationship; custody battles over non-biological children in the event of the biological parent’s death or incapacity; or family attempts to limit a spouse’s ability to make medical decisions for their partner. A state’s intestacy laws may also pose a problem for same-sex couples. Should an individual die without an estate plan, the surviving spouse may only be entitled to a portion of the decedent’s assets—leaving the rest to be inherited by unsupportive blood relatives. In order to protect same-sex clients from these circumstances, below are a few estate planning tools to consider implementing into your estate planning strategies: In these cases, a marriage license and other estate planning documents such as wills and health care powers of attorney can help make sure that a same-sex couple’s wishes regarding their spouse’s right over the inheritance of their estate, right to make end-of-life decisions for their spouse, and guardianship rights are honored.   [Wealth Docx®](https://www.wealthcounsel.com/software-for-attorneys/wealthdocx)** provides drafting options for same-sex couples. With intelligent automation that is also easily customizable, it contains options to identify the client and spouse, allows for same-sex spouses, and allows for the inclusion of the same-sex spouse as fiduciary and beneficiary.** --- *If you’re ready to get the help you need and take your practice to the next level, [schedule a demo ](https://www.wealthcounsel.com/contact)with one of our staff*—*[discuss pricing](https://www.wealthcounsel.com/contact) and learn how WealthCounsel can meet your practice’s particular needs.* [![Schedule a Demo](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/56547/927982fe-a480-4b75-b8f4-c210e03d9dde.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/56547/927982fe-a480-4b75-b8f4-c210e03d9dde)   Topics: [Legal Marketing](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/blog/topic/legal-marketing) [Estates Planning](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/blog/topic/estates-planning) [Trusts & Estates](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/blog/topic/trusts-estates) Previous Post [![](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/hubfs/Joint-v-Separate-Trusts.png) ](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/blog/joint-vs.-separate-trusts-for-married-couples) [Joint vs. Separate Trusts for Married Couples](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/blog/joint-vs.-separate-trusts-for-married-couples) Next Post [![](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/hubfs/WDx-online-update.png) ](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/blog/wealth-docx-new-enhancements-to-include-incentive-trust-provisions-for-revocable-living-trusts) [Wealth Docx® New Enhancements to Include Incentive Trust Provisions for Revocable Living Trusts](https://info.wealthcounsel.com/blog/wealth-docx-new-enhancements-to-include-incentive-trust-provisions-for-revocable-living-trusts) ### Post a Comment This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - 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