The word “bankruptcy” often evokes feelings of shame and embarrassment, of acute discomfort, and of personal failure. But serious financial problems can easily overwhelm a person or a family, and sometimes bankruptcy is the best way to handle the situation.

It can be a good option, and a positive step toward getting on with life. Its purpose has always been to give debtors stress relief and a fresh start.

It’s tradition - a new year calls for a review of the past and resolutions for the future.

Why should the LGBT community make a special effort to be in good legal health? Because we do not always share the legal safeguards and support offered to heterosexuals by the state and federal government. It takes careful planning and creative thinking to make sure LGBT persons are fully protected.

Here are some tips that will help bring you good legal health in the new year:

Is your house still your home?

Homeowners have had a miserable couple of years, since the downturn in the economy pulled the rug out from under the equity in their homes. Home prices dropped precipitously in many areas, just as many home loans began resetting to higher interest rates.

The squeeze has meant defaults, short sales, foreclosures and sometimes bankruptcy for many Americans. If you are a homeowner in distress, or know someone who has been seriously affected by the slump in home prices, here is some important information:

A large part of my law practice is devoted to helping members of the LGBT community build a solid foundation for the future – in a world in which we are still denied many civil and human rights.

Picking my way through the maze of state and federal laws that directly affect LGBT lives, I pull together the rules that benefit us, and build on those, suggesting the best methods for protecting ourselves and our assets.

I am often contacted by prospective clients who say something like “I think I need a Will or a Power of Attorney.