Today’s five-year anniversary of Terri Schiavo’s death is a reminder that we all have to face end-of-life decisions, for ourselves and often for loved ones. Most of us don’t like talking about end-of-life issues. Even more of us never get around to putting a plan in writing. Then-26-year-old Terri Schiavo didn’t either.
Terri was diagnosed as [...]
Dennis Engelhard and Kelly Glossip were life partners for almost 15 years. They owned a home together. Glossip’s teenage son from a previous marriage, before Glossip came out as gay, considered Engelhard a stepfather. But Glossip will not be receiving survivor’s benefits from Engelhard’s pension.
Engelhard, a 10-year veteran of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, was [...]
The Illinois Disposition of Remains Act, 755 ILCS 65/1 et seq., provides one of the more recent tools in the Life Planning Toolbox. The Act allows a person (the “principal”) to provide written instructions for the disposition, including cremation, of his or her remains. It also allows a person to designate an agent to direct [...]
By Sandra J. Slaga
You die. You left no will. Maybe you were too busy or just kept putting it off. Maybe you thought you didn’t have enough property or money to justify having a will.
For LGBT persons, a will is not optional. Dying without a will guarantees that your property will be automatically distributed to your legal heirs, [...]
Have you considered life insurance as a way to provide for your loved ones if you die unexpectedly?
Who do you want to receive the benefits of your life insurance when you die?
If you have a company pension, 401(k), 403(b), IRA or other retirement assets, who will receive them when you die?
It’s easy to forget whom [...]
What are your wishes if you are in a persistent vegetative state or have a terminal condition, and death is imminent?
Do you feel strongly about resuscitation, insertion tubes or other life-sustaining procedures?
How do you best ensure that your wishes are honored?
A Living Will is not a last will and testament. It is a written statement [...]
You are in a serious accident or are sick enough to be hospitalized – you can’t make medical decisions for yourself.
Who will make decisions when the doctors ask?
Without the proper legal document, the first relative who arrives at the hospital may be called upon to make critical and personal medical decisions.
In one case, hospital staff [...]
As an LGBT person or a person living with HIV, do you have a Life Plan Toolbox? Would you get into a boat going out on Lake Michigan without a life preserver? Would you let your loved one do so? If your answer is no, then why would you allow you and [...]
A will is a legal document that allows you to control who will receive your property when you die, and how and when they’ll receive it. It also allows you to name someone to carry out the instructions in your will, and allows you to nominate a guardian for your minor children.
If you die without [...]