The legal landscape that same-sex couples often face on a variety of estate planning issues is murky. Financial advisers need to stay abreast of the latest legislative and legal developments at both the state and federal level. Some of the estate-planning issues that affect same-sex couples include things like social security, pensions, taxation, wills, and trusts. It is important for financial advisers to have a strong grasp of the state laws relating to all of these issues, state policies are not consistent, and estate planners will need to understand the local regulations. The national policies governing same-sex relationships are going to continue to change with future court decisions. Estate planners will need to have the latest information to provide better advice to clients who are in same-sex relationships.
See Mark P. Cussen, Top Retirement Planning Tips For Same Sex Couples, Investopedia, June 23, 2015.
