LGBTQ+ Wealth Protection & Estate Planning
Built By Our Community, For Our Community.
We know the reality: for LGBTQ+ people, estate planning isn’t just paperwork. It is protection, validation, and peace of mind that generations before us were never able to secure for themselves or the people they loved. For so long, our relationships were legally invisible—partners denied hospital access, families separated in moments of crisis, financial resources taken from the very people who provided a lifetime of love and care. These stories aren’t ancient history; many of us grew up watching our friends and elders navigate a legal system that refused to see their families as real.
Estate planning, for us, is not a formality.
It is an act of self-determination.
It is an act of love.
And it is an act of protection for the future we’ve worked so hard to build.
At Adelman Bodner, we honor that history while helping you rise above it. We are here to make sure that the people who matter most to you, your partner, your children, your chosen family are protected no matter what happens in life. Your relationships will not be overlooked. Your wishes will not be ignored. Your family will not be erased.
This is the safety, clarity, and dignity that every LGBTQ+ person deserves—and it’s exactly what we’re here to provide.
Why LGBTQ+ Estate Planning Is Different
Estate planning for LGBTQ+ individuals and families sits at the intersection of law, family, healthcare, finances, and identity.
We understand and routinely plan for the nuances that non-LGBTQ+ may unintentionally overlook:
Diverse Family Structures
Blended families, chosen families, co-parenting, non-biological parenting, unmarried partnerships, multi-state couples—your plan must reflect your family, not a one-size-fits-all template.
Non-Marital Protections
Not every couple wants or is able to marry. We offer strong legal frameworks to ensure partners have authority, access, and inheritance rights even without marriage.
Avoiding Family Interference
Sadly, LGBTQ+ wills are challenged at much higher rates.
We structure your documents to increase enforceability and prevent estranged relatives from overturning your wishes.
Healthcare & Crisis Protections
Hospital access, end-of-life decisions, medical advocacy, HIPAA releases, which are these are crucial in emergencies, and LGBTQ+ individuals often face extra barriers. We plan for that.
Multi-State Considerations
If your relationship or parentage is recognized differently across state lines, we ensure your documents hold up anywhere you go.
Planning that reflects your love, your values, and your identity
Core Essentials
Last Will & Testament
Revocable Living Trusts
Powers of Attorney
Advance Healthcare Directives
HIPAA Authorization
Asset & Wealth Protection
Trust-based planning for high-net-worth couples
Asset segregation for blended families
Tax-efficient transfers between unmarried partners
Real estate planning for co-ownership
Legacy Planning
Protecting chosen family
Charitable giving (LGBTQ+ nonprofits, foundations, scholarships)
Ensuring guardianship of pets - chosen or biological (yes, we plan for cats and dogs too)
Our Promise to You
You are safe here.
You are seen.
You are understood.
Your love, your identity, your family—all valid, all protected.We take pride in being an LGBTQ+-owned and operated law firm serving New York families for decades. Our goal is simple:
To make sure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected, no matter what