Originally posted by bishop375:This has NOTHING to do with society or society's opinion. Healthcare will not allow a partner under a civil union to have final say in treatment, save for VERY few instances. They are not allowed to handle financial/estate affairs in the event of death. EVEN if they've been together for 40 or 50 years.
This level of disinformation that is prevelant in society is stunning to say the least. Every item expressed in this statement is patently untrue. Healthcare, financial and real estate, and overall estate issues are handled by a mix of two documents, a living will, and the last will and testament. Power of attorney, which gives the right to make healthcare decisions, sign checks, make legal deisions, etc., is dealt with in the living will document, which also deals with heroic lifesaving measures, or who can make such life saving decisions if the decision is not dictated in the living will. I can designate anyone I choose with power of attorney in my living will, whether it be my spouse, another family member, or someone outside of the family, like my attorney for instance. Yes by default, in the absence of any living will, when a state sponsored legal marriage contract exists, the spouse gets these rights by default, however even this right can explicitiy be overridden in the living will document. The executor established in the last will and testament document is responsible for the execution of the legal will/testament document to the benefactors listed in the document. These days given the complexity of healthcare issues, financial situations, etc., it is imperative for even married couples to have these two legal documents prepped early in life and updated as needed. In the many situations raised by the gay community siting these false arguments, it is always because of a lack of foresight and irresponsibility for not having these two critical documents in hand when healthcare issues and/or death occurs.
