Protecting Your Chosen Family: Life & Legacy Planning for LGBTQIA+ Loved Ones
October is LGBTQIA+ History Month—a moment to reflect on hard-won progress and to take practical steps that safeguard what matters most. One of the most powerful steps is creating a Life & Legacy Plan® that secures your rights, honors your wishes, and protects the people you love—whether that’s a spouse, partner, close friends, or community.
In this article, you’ll learn why this month is more than remembrance—it’s a call to action. We’ll cover the legal vulnerabilities LGBTQIA+ individuals and families can face, why documents-only planning often falls short, and how Life & Legacy Planning provides true peace of mind.
Why LGBTQIA+ History Month Matters for Planning
Progress didn’t happen by accident—it was earned through courage and persistence. And while marriage equality expanded critical protections, gaps still remain in everyday life, especially when there’s no clear, enforceable plan.
Estrangement and default laws: When legal documents or beneficiary designations are missing or outdated, state default rules typically elevate biological relatives—regardless of closeness—over the partner or chosen family who actually shows up.
Healthcare access and advocacy: If your medical directives aren’t clear and current, hospitals may defer to next of kin rather than the person you trust.
Parenting and guardianship: Without proactive planning, loved ones may face delays or disputes around custody and care during emergencies or after death.
Changing legal landscapes: Rights can evolve. A resilient plan anticipates change and keeps protections current.
The takeaway is simple: Protecting your chosen family isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Why Traditional Estate Planning Often Fails LGBTQIA+ Families
Many people think a will or a stack of online forms is enough. Unfortunately, documents-only planning can create a false sense of security:
A will doesn’t avoid probate. Court processes can invite conflict, delay access to assets, and add costs.
Beneficiary designations can bypass your will. If they’re outdated, assets may go to the wrong person.
Unfunded or neglected trusts won’t work. If titles and accounts aren’t aligned with your plan, your wishes may not be honored.
No ongoing relationship = no updates. Lives change. Laws change. Assets change. Static documents don’t.
Life & Legacy Planning is different. It’s a relationship-based approach that ensures your plan actually works when your loved ones need it—and that someone you trust will be there to guide them.
How Life & Legacy Planning Protects Your Chosen Family
Life & Legacy Planning goes beyond documents to deliver real-world protection for LGBTQIA+ families:
Name the people you choose. Ensure the spouse, partner, or friends you trust have clear authority for healthcare, finances, and inheritance—rather than defaulting to estranged relatives or state rules.
Healthcare advocacy that holds up. Up-to-date medical directives and powers of attorney help prevent bedside barriers and guarantee your wishes are respected.
Security for your children. Our Kids Protection Plan® (for parents of minor children) ensures the right people can step in immediately in an emergency and over the long term—with the resources to care for your kids as you would want.
Friction-free finances. We align titles, beneficiary designations, and trust funding so loved ones can access what they need without unnecessary delays, conflict, or extra expense.
Reviews that keep pace with life. We proactively revisit your plan so it stays current with your relationships, assets, and the law.
Preserve your stories and values. Your plan includes ways to pass on more than money—your voice, traditions, and lessons—so your legacy reflects who you are.
When you plan with us, you’re not just protecting assets—you’re protecting love, identity, and dignity.
Take Action: Protect Your Loved Ones Today
This LGBTQIA+ History Month, honor the past by safeguarding your future.
During a Life & Legacy Planning Session®, we will:
Clarify what would happen to your people and your assets today, as things stand.
Create a complete inventory so nothing is lost or overlooked.
Design a plan aligned with your values, relationships, and goals.
Help you choose the right level of planning for your needs and budget.
Once you choose your plan, we’ll implement it—properly—so it works when it matters most. And we’ll be here for your loved ones if you become incapacitated and after you die, guiding them every step of the way.
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute discovery call and let’s ensure your legacy reflects who you are and protects the people you love.
This article is a service of Starsia Law, a Personal Family Lawyer® Firm. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life & Legacy Planning Session™, during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love.
The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.