Our Fort Lauderdale Family Lawyer Explains How LGBTQ Couples Can Protect Themselves In 2025

The LGBTQ community has fought for many long decades to gain certain rights and liberties, but there are still those who are determined to take them away. If you are part of an LGBTQ couple, you may be worried about how new legislation and changes in existing laws could impact your family in 2025.

Our Fort Lauderdale family lawyer is a strong ally on the side of the LGTBQ community and has a long history of taking the legal actions needed to help protect them. We explain ways LGBTQ couples can protect themselves and the people they love now and in the years ahead.

Take These Steps To Protect Your Rights As A LGTBQ Couple In Fort Lauderdale

LGBTQ rights are under fire. While the landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges back in 2015 made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reports that less than half the country has laws protecting LGBTQ people against discrimination.

In light of recent changes in leadership, the ACLU is currently tracking over 500 pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation, 14 of which are in Florida. Unfortunately, if you are an LGBTQ couple in Fort Lauderdale, you have cause for concern.

With both same-sex marriage and transgender rights in jeopardy, you may be wondering what would happen to your marriage, your family, and any financial security you have built over the years if legal protections got overturned. There is no easy answer or obvious solution to the problems you may face in 2025. However, there are steps you can take now to protect yourself:

• Consider stepparent adoption: For LGBTQ couples with children, parental rights may be at risk. If you are not a natural or legal parent, initiate adoption proceedings immediately.
• Create an estate plan: Putting a will, advance directives, and power of attorney in place can help protect your rights, particularly if the legal status of LGBTQ marriages gets threatened.
• Consider a postnuptial agreement: A postnuptial agreement acts similarly to a prenup. In the event of a divorce, it details each party’s rights and responsibilities regarding property, assets, and other matters (though it excludes child time-sharing or other plans regarding children). A postnuptial agreement also includes an inventory of all current marital property and assets, which may prove helpful if faced with future legal challenges.

For LGBTQ couples facing an uncertain future, taking these and other legal actions can help protect your family and your financial security against any challenges ahead.

For Trusted Legal Guidance, Contact Our Experienced Fort Lauderdale Family Lawyer

The LGBTQ community has weathered many legal storms and will undoubtedly fight to overcome obstacles that may lie ahead in 2025. However, to ensure your family is protected throughout the process, get the trusted legal guidance you need from our experienced Fort Lauderdale family lawyer.

Vanessa L. Prieto has spent decades serving as a strong legal ally on the side of the LGBTQ community. To protect your rights, call or contact our office online to schedule a consultation today.

Sources:

supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/21/21-476/227884/20220614132338901_42501%20pdf%20Goldstein.pdf

aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights

aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights-2024