Resources and Links
Return to Resources and Links Menu
Same-Sex and Unmarried Couples
[Updated May 2009]
Books, Treatises, Etc.
- A Legal Guide for Lesbian & Gay Couples, Hayden Curry, Denis Clifford & Frederick Hertz, Nolo Press, 14th Ed.
- A White Paper: An Analysis of the Law Regarding Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships, ABA Family Law Section, 2004.
- Emerging legal issues: non-traditional families,(Family Law Section annual meeting) [ Cary, N.C.] North Carolina Bar Association Foundation, c2004
- Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples, Joan M. Burda; ABA 2004. (comes with a CD with forms)
- Inheritance Law and the Evolving Family, Ralph C. Brashier (2004)
- J.K. Lasser's Gay Finances in a Straight World: A Comprehensive Financial Planning Handbook, P.M. Berkery, Jr. & Gregory A. Diggins, Wiley (1998).
- Lee's North Carolina Family Law, Suzanne Reynolds, Michie, 5th ed. (particularly Chapters 4, 16 & 17)
- Living Together: A Legal Guide for Unmarried Couples (13th ed), Toni Lynne Ihara, Ralph E. Warner and Frederick Hertz (2006).
- Loving Without A License - An Estate Planning Survival Guide For Unmarried Couples And Same Sex Partners, Peggy R. Hoyt and Candace M. Pollock (Sep 30, 2000)
- Money Without Matrimony: The Unmarried Couple's Guide to Financial Security, Sheryl Garrent, and Debra Neiman (2005),
- New Jersey Domestic Partners (2d ed.), Stephen J. Hyland (2007). Sexual Orientation and the Law, Roberta Achtenberg, Ed., Thomson West. 2 volume treatise.
Brochures and Web Articles
- Asset Management for Same-Sex Couples, Angela Watson.
- Legal Planning for Same-Sex Couples: Preparing for the Unexpected, GLAD.
- The Need for Marriage (For Those Who Want It) at Marriage Equality USA.
- The Rainbow Plan, Norman A. Dawidowicz.
- Singles and Unmarried Couples Require Their Own Financial Planning Structure, American College of Emergency Physicians (May 2007).
CLE Manuscripts and Other Resources
- Domestic Partner Life and Estate Planning, Cynthia L. Barrett, SJ060 ALI-ABA 213 (2004).
- Essential LGBT Law 101, Ellen W. Gerber; prepared for and presented at After Lawrence: LGBT Legal Issues in North Carolina, a Continuing Legal Education Program presented by North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Attorneys (NC-GALA):
- Buying Real Property Together
- Owning Personal Property Together
- Estate Planning For Same Sex Couples 2004, Cynthia L. Barrett, ALI-ABA CLE (Sept. 2004), Sophisticated Estate Planning Techniques Co-sponsored by Massachusetts CLE, Inc.
- Estate Planning For the Unmarried Couple/Non-Traditional Family, Wendy S. Goffe, ALI-ABA CLE (June 2005), Estate Planning in Depth Co-sponsored by CLE for Wisconsin (CLEW).
- Outing Age: Public Policy Issues Affecting Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders - Cahill, South & Spade (2000).
- Planning For Non-Traditional Families, Jerry Simon Chasen, ALI-ABA CLE (Feb. 2006) Advanced Estate Planning Techniques.
- Same-Sex Couples in the Elder Law Office, Cynthia L. Barrett, The Elder Law Report, Vol. XIX, No. 4 (Nov. 2007).
- The Effect of State-Legalized Same-Sex Marriage on Social Security Benefits and Pensions, Congressional Research Service; CRS Report RS21897 (January 2008)
- The New Jersey Domestic Partnership Act (2004), Chapter 246.
Courses
- Estate Planning for Second Marriages and Non-Traditional Families, April 18, 2006, Troy, MI (video dates).
- Estate Planning For The Unmarried Couple/Non-Traditional Family (With Form) (Part 1) Wendy S. Goffe ,12-1-2005 (online)
Law Reviews and Business Journal Articles
- Aging and the Nontraditional Family, T.P. Gallanis, 32 U. Mem. L. Rev. 607 (2002).
- Counseling Gay Couples, Helen W. Gunnarsson, 91 Ill B.J. 546 (2003).
- Elder Law and Estate Planning for Gay and Lesbian Individuals and Couples, Ralph Randazzo, 6 Marq. Elder's Advisor 1, (2004).
- Essential Planning for the Constitutionally Unrecognized Families in Oklahoma: Same-Sex Couples, Spring 2005 Symposium: The Legislative Backlash to Advances in Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Camille M. Quinn, Shawna S. Baker, 40 Tulsa L. Rev. 479 (2005).
- Estate and Charitable Gift Planning for Unmarried Couples, Wendy S. Goffe and William J. Zook, Jl. of Gift Planning (June 2006) p. 5-37.
- Estate Planning and the Transgender Client, A Spencer Bergstedt, 30 W. New Eng. L. Rev. 675 (2008).
- Estate Planning Considerations for Unmarried Same or Opposite Sex Cohabitants, Frank S. Berall, 23 Quinnipiac L. Rev. 361 (2004).
- Growing Old Together: Estate Planning Concerns for the Aging Same-Sex Couple, Aimee Bouchard and Kim Zadworny, 30 W. New Eng. L. Rev. 713 (2008).
- Homophobia in the Closet and in the Coffin, Amy D. Ronner, 21 Law & Ineq. 65 (2003).
- Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Conjugal Relationships: The 2003 California Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act in Comparative Civil Rights and Family Law Perspective, Grace Ganz Blumberg, 51 UCLA L. Rev. 1555 (2004).
- LGBT Elder Law: Toward Equality in Aging, Nancy J. Knauer, 32 Harv. J.L. and Gender 1-58 (2009).
- Life Partners, Legal Strangers: Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples, Sverre David Roang & Brian T. Larson, Wisconsin Lawyer (Nov. 2006).
- Note: Legal Planning for Gay, Lesbian and Non-Traditional Elders, Matthew R. Dubois, 63 Alb. L. Rev. 263 (1999).
- Nuts and Bolts: Estate Planning and Family Law Considerations for Same-Sex Families, Patience Crozier, 30 W. New Eng. L. Rev. 751 (2008).
- The Estate Planning Implications of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health for Massachusetts Same-Sex Couples, Jeremy T. Marr, Intellectual Property and Technology Forum at Boston College Law School (May 12, 2004).
- The Ethical Responsibilities of Estate Planning Attorneys in the Representation of Non-Traditional Couples, Jennifer Tulin McGrath, 27 Seattle U. L. Rev. 75 (2003).
- The Impact of Medicaid Estate Recovery on Nontraditional Families, Diane Lourdes Dick, 15 U. Fla. J.L. & Pub. Pol'y 525, (2004).
- Thy Will Not be Done: Why States Should Amend Their Probate Codes to Allow an Intestate Share for Unmarried Homosexual Couples, Charles Patrick Schwartz, 7 Conn. Pub. In. L.J. 289 (2008).
- To Have or Not to Have: Advance Planning by Same-Sex Couples, Ellen D. B. Riggle, et. al., Sexuality, Research and Social Policy (v. 3, n. 1, March 2006), p. 22-32.
- Where the Rainbow Ends: Trying to Find a Pot of Gold for Same-Sex Couples in Pennsylvania, Maureen B. Cohon, 41 Duq. L. Rev. 495 (2003).
Magazine Articles
- Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples, Joan M. Burda, ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division Magazine.
- Estate Planning for the Unmarried Couple/Non-Traditional Family, Wendy S. Goffe, ACTEC Journal (v. 31, no. 3, Winter 2005) p. 177.
- Estate Planning Tips for Unmarried Couples, Randy B. Hecht, AARP, The Magazine, May & June 2004.
- Gay Couples, Encyclopedia of Everyday Law. Ed. Shirelle Phelps, Thomson Gale, 2003. eNotes.com. May 2, 2006.
- Gay Marriage Inc., Mike Hudson, The Advocate (Mar. 29, 2005).
- Grandma's Got A Boyfriend, Now What?, Scott Reeves, Forbes (Aug. 4, 2005),
- No Straight Answers, Randy B. Hecht; AARP, The Magazine; May & June 2004.
- Probate & Property (The Magazine of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the American Bar Association).
- Estate and Gift Tax Planning for Nontraditional Families, Jerry Simon Chasen and Elizabeth F. Schwartz, January/ February 2001.
- More Estate and Gift Tax Planning for Nontraditional Families: Retirement Assets, Jerry Simon Chasen, May/June 2001.
- The Puzzling Problem of Same-Sex Estates, Frederick P. Gabriel-Deveau, Worth (Feb. 1, 2006).
- To Have or Not to Have: Advance Planning by Same-Sex Couples, Ellen D. B. Riggle, Sharon Scales Rostosky, Russell Couch, Carolyn Brodnicki, Jessica Campbell, Todd Savage, Sexuality Research and Social Policy: Journal of NSRC, March 2006, Vol. 3, No. 1, Pages 22-32 (doi:10.1525/srsp.2006.3.1.22).
Newspaper Articles
- Gay couples enter golden years with more risk; Lack of financial protections that marriage affords puts them in jeopardy, Sandra Block, USA TODAY, May 17, 2004, p. B1.
- In Europe, Lovers Now Propose: Marry Me, A Little, Sarah Lyall; NY Times, February 15, 2004.
- Law’s New Course: Gay Rights, Scott Jaschik; NY Times, January 18, 2004.
- Same Sex Couples Struggle for Legal Protection, Doug Erickson, LaCrosse Tribune (Dec. 3, 2006).
- Senior same-sex couples navigate system that doesn't recognize them, Meg Heckman, Concord Monitor (Apr. 22, 2007).
- Unwed pairs need legal protection, Kathy Chu, USA Today (May 15, 2006).
- Wills Help Gay Pairs, Heirs, Elizabeth Lazarowitz, NY Daily News (July 2, 2007).
Organizations & Resources: National
- American Society on Aging, Lesbian & Gay Issues Network
- ACLU Lesbian & Gay Rights and AIDS Projects
- Estate planning for non-traditional or same-sex couples
- Estate Planning Issues for Same-Sex Couples by Professional Referrals.Ca
- Estate Planning - Wills & Trusts by Christopher B. Fagan & Jared Laskin
- Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders
- Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
- Gay and Lesbian Issues by Jared Laskin
- GayBusinessWorld.com
- Gay Estate Planning
- Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Consult this website’s Aging section and Marriage section
- James Lange & Associates
- Jason E. Havens' Legal Research for Estate Planners (LREP)
- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
- LGBT Aging Project
- Lesbian and Gay Aging Issues Network (This is a constituent group of the American Society on Aging.)
- Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force
- National Center for Lesbian Rights
- National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
- Same-Sex Couples
- Senior Action in a Gay Environment (SAGE)
Organizations and Resources: North Carolina
- AIDS Legal Assistance Project (Duke Law School)
- American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina
- Equality North Carolina Political Action Committee and Equality North Carolina Project
- North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Attorneys (NC-GALA); and the NC GALA Institute for Equal Rights
Practising Law Institute
- Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples, Beth L. Kramer, Kramer Law Group, 36th Annual Estate Planning Institute, Practising Law Institute PLI Order No. 6824 2005.
- Estate Planning for Domestic Partners and Non-Traditional Families, Erica Bell Weiss, Buell & Bell, 36th Annual Estate Planning Institute, Practising Law Institute PLI Order No. 6824 2005.
Recordings
- Advanced estate planning for singles, unmarried couples and same-sex couples, [Boston, Mass. Suffolk University Law School, Center for Advanced Legal Studies, 2005].
- Compact sophisticated estate planning VI: [Rocky Hill, Conn.]. CT Bar Institute, 2006-01-26.
- Estate Planning Strategies for Non-Traditional Families, presented by the National Constitution Center on March 14, 2007.
Information Not Legal Advice. This website has been prepared for general information purposes only. The information on this website is not legal advice. Legal advice is dependent upon the specific circumstances of each situation. Also, the law may vary from state to state, so that some information in this website may not be correct for your jurisdiction. Finally, the information contained in this website is not guaranteed to be up to date. Therefore, the information contained in this website cannot replace the advice of competent legal counsel licensed in your state.
