A Legal Guide For Lesbian and Gay Couples

by Curry, Hayden

• ISBN13: 9781413301762
• ISBN10: 1413301762
• Edition: 13th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-04-30
• Publisher: Nolo

Summary

America's estimated 20 million lesbians and gay men need to take specific legal steps to define and protect their relationships in the eyes of the law. This practical guide shows them how to:- obtain domestic partner benefits- plan for medical emergencies- buy property together- provide for each other at death- understand the practical and legal aspects of having and raising children.The guide includes living together contracts, sample wills and a durable power of attorney.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Why Same-Sex Couples Need This Book	2	(1)
25 Years of Progress: The More Things Change	3	(2)
How We See Our Relationships	5	(1)
Using the Forms in This Book	6	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	6
Creating Family: Marriage, Domestic Partnership, and More
Defining Family	3	(3)
Domestic Partnership	6	(3)
Marriage-Like Relationships in California and Vermont	9	(6)
Relationship Recognition in Hawaii, Maine, and New Jersey	15	(2)
Can You Get Married?	17	(5)
Creating Marriage-Like Relationships by Contract	22	(1)
Special Issues When One Partner Is Transgender	23	(1)
Adopting Your Partner	24	(1)
Ending a Relationship	24	(1)
Keeping Up With Legal Changes	25
Money, Insurance, Name Changes, and Immigration Issues
Cash and Credit	2	(5)
Insurance	7	(1)
Name Changes	8	(2)
Foreign Lovers: Visits and Immigration	10
Renting a Home Together
If a Landlord Discriminates Against You	2	(1)
Sharing a Rental	3	(2)
Sharing One Partner's Rented Home	5	(2)
Renter's Insurance	7	(1)
Moving On	8	(1)
Public Benefits and Living Together	8
I'm Mom, She's Mommy (or I'm Daddy, He's Papa)
Legal Parents and the Second Parent Trap	2	(12)
Having a Child	14	(9)
Adopting a Child	23	(5)
Foster Parenting	28	(2)
Becoming a Guardian	30	(4)
Agreements With Teenagers	34
Medical and Financial Matters: Delegating Authority
Health Care Decisions	3	(5)
Physician-Assisted Suicide	8	(1)
Burial and Body Disposition	9	(1)
Estate Planning Note	10	(1)
Durable Power of Attorney for Finances	11
Looking Ahead: Estate Planning
Death and Living Together Contracts	2	(1)
Wills	3	(14)
Estate Planning Beyond a Will	17
Living Together Contracts for Lesbian and Gay Couples
Living Together Contracts Are Legal	3	(1)
When You Need a Living Together Contract	4	(1)
What to Include in a Living Together Contract	5	(3)
Sample Living Together Contracts	8	(18)
Modifying Your Agreement	26	(1)
Beware the Tax Man!	26
Buying a Home Together (and Other Real Estate Ventures)
Finding a House	3	(1)
How Much House Can You Afford?	4	(4)
Proceeding With Your Purchase	8	(4)
Taking Title to Your New Home	12	(1)
Contracts for Home Purchase and Ownership	13
Going Separate Ways: Issues at the End of a Relationship
Breaking Up: An Overview	2	(2)
The Separation Process: What to Do	4	(8)
Ideas for Solving Some Common Problems	12	(8)
Domestic Violence in Same-Sex Relationships	20	(1)
Dissolving a Marriage	20
Help Beyond the Book
Hiring a Lawyer	2	(2)
Doing Your Own Legal Research	4	(2)
Legal Organizations	6
Appendix How to Use the CD-ROM
Index