The Law Has a Default. It Is Often Not Your People.
When someone cannot speak for themselves, or when they die, the law falls back on a default order: a spouse, then blood relatives. If you are not married, that can leave your partner with no legal say. And for many LGBTQ+ people, the biological relatives the law turns to are not the people who actually love and support them.
The documents below let you override that default and name the people you trust. Married couples gained many of these protections automatically after the 2015 Obergefell decision, but these documents still add a layer of protection, they matter enormously for unmarried partners and chosen family, and they help when you travel to or move through less friendly states.
You do not need to be wealthy or hire an expensive lawyer to do this. Most of these documents are free to complete using your state's official forms, and the whole set can often be finished in an afternoon with a notary or witnesses. This guide walks you through each one.