Currents September 2019 Sept 2019_Currents web | Page 14

14 Currents September 2019 > continued from page 13 Richies Painting LLC Interior & Exterior Painting Wallpaper Removal Free Estimate! Call Richie at 954-675-1392 License and Insured • CC#02-10332-P* By: Carol Ann Heinrich Waiting All my life I have been waiting Wait for a phone call or a doorbell or a message A key in the door Always waiting Where is the call for the results? for the assurance, for the relief, for the love? Always waiting The ideas and the brain messages run thru my mind Good things, negative thoughts, fears, apprehension and anxiety   All in my  stupid thinking Still I am forever waiting until the wait is over. married in any state, you are entitled to the same legal rights and benefits as heterosexual couples, both in Florida and in the United States.  This covers everything from taxes to health insurance, life insur- ance and pension benefits, as well as property tax exemptions for widows or widowers. Any state or federal law that previously applied to traditional mar- riages now applies to same sex marriages as well. It also means that, in the event of a divorce, the same rules apply. However, if you are not married but are living together as domestic partners or significant others, regardless of your sexual orientation, none of the laws for marriage apply.    There is no “common law marriage” in Florida.  Basically, you are each treated as a single person for all state and federal laws and tax purposes.   If you are living together but not married, it is par- ticularly important that you have the basic legal doc- uments in Florida to protect you if either or both of you become incapacitated.  This includes the Desig- nation of Health Care Surrogate for making medical decisions, the Living Will or pulling the plug docu- ment and the Durable Power of Attorney for legal and financial matters.    If you jointly own your home and/or other real estate, it is important to look at the benefits of a Revocable Living Trust or a Life Estate Deed to avoid probate when you both die.   Even if you are married, it is important to have these legal documents.    If you were living together and got married after doing those documents, it is important to review them now for any changes due to your new legal status.   If you are considering getting married, regardless of sexual orientation, you should review with an attorney the legal benefits and disadvantages of doing so.    Ultimately, a decision to marry should be based on love and compatibility; however, it is cer- tainly important to also be aware of the legal and financial issues. Please feel free to call me for a free personal or phone consultation regarding any issues pertaining to Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning and Probate.    Call me at 954-569-4878.  My address  is 3275 W. Hills- boro Blvd., Suite 204, Deerfield Beach, Florida.   My website is www.martinzevinpa.com and my e-mail address is [email protected].