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Same-Sex Marriage or Domestic Partnership

By Julia Frey.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a decision in Obergefell vs. Hodges which held that States cannot keep same-sex couples from obtaining a license to marry and must recognize same-sex marriages from other states.  The law of the land is that same-sex couples can legally marry and be entitled to the protections, rights and obligations of any other lawfully wedded couple.   However, will this ruling result in same-sex couples being required to marry in order to keep benefits?  Many employers have provided for domestic partner benefits in the past, when same-sex marriages were not legal.  Now that same-sex marriage is permitted, will companies rescind domestic partner benefits and replace it with spousal rights?  Some large companies have already begun phasing out domestic partner benefits for same-sex partners, which means that one would have to marry to keep those benefits.  If you currently have domestic partner benefits you should check with your employer and see whether any changes are anticipated to those benefits. read more

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End of life care…who cares?

By Julia Frey.  When meeting with people to discuss estate planning for themselves and their families, often some of the hardest discussions are about “end of life”.   Now, we all hope that at our end of life we will go without any health concerns, without any lingering illnesses etc. but we just don’t know.  I recently read some statistics posted by “The Conversation Project” that stated that 90% of people think it is important to talk with their loved ones about their own wishes for end of life care —- but only 30% of people have actually had those discussions.  Similarly, 82% of people believe that they should put their wishes in writing — but only 23% have actually signed documents that deal with end of life care.  You don’t want to leave these decisions to chance, or to the government or to health care professionals who don’t know what you would have wanted.  So, I urge you to talk to your estate planning attorney and get your life-time documents (which include your end of life documents) in place.  I also urge you to talk to your parents and encourage them to do the same.  Take a look at www.theconversationproject.org as well and see if that helps you get the conversation started. read more

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How not having a Will can wreck a family.

By:  Julie Frey

I have long talked about how important it is to have your affairs in order, while you have the ability to do so.  I am a WMFE 90.7 fan, loyal listener and am currently serving as Chair of the Board.   A few nights ago on my way to the airport to pick up my son from college I was listening to “On Point” on WMFE.  The show was about a family whose mother did not have her durable power of attorney or health care documents in order and then got ill.  The family members then fought over how to care for their mother.  When the mother died, with a modest estate, the family then continued to bicker about the possessions and the small amount of money left to distribute.  The end result was a family divided.  A family who does not talk to each other.  These rifts sometimes never heal.  While thinking about one’s mortality is not fun, leaving a mess for those left behind is not a good legacy either.  Talk to your estate planning attorney who can help you prepare a plan that meets your needs and helps keep this from happening. read more

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When Should You Make A Will? Julie Answers Question on FOX News

By:  Julie Frey 

Today, I was given the opportunity to appear on Fox 35 News Good Day Orlando and answer commonly asked questions about wills in an interview with Ryan Elijah. Fox reported that although it’s essential to legally protect your loved ones and even your assets,  it turns out that 64% of us don’t have a Will. That is a shocking number because if we don’t create a Will, our families will be the ones to suffer. I tell my clients that as soon as they own anything, such as a bank account, a house, a car, they should create a Will. I have witnessed situations where a person did not create a Will in time and it left the family in disarray, which we helped to sort out. I have also seen situations where a person drafted their own Will through a form but did it incorrectly, so the Will was invalid, and the intended beneficiaries did not inherit the assets. In one case, the assets went to the State of Florida. To watch the video, click here. Thanks Fox 35 News for covering such an important topic! read more