With the recent Supreme Court ruling making headlines for allowing same-sex couples to get married, the unnoticed effect of this monumental ruling is how it will affect the estate planning for couples that can now tie the knot. Same-sex married couples now have the same estate planning and tax…
Adult adoption is not only legal, but is becoming a more popular way for people to ensure their estate is inherited by the ones who matter most in their lives. In Florida, the state law makes no distinction between child and adult adoption. According to the statute, § 63.042(1), “any…
Phyllis Korkki with the NY Times wrote an article dealing with some of the problems our aging society has when they have no children or natural caregivers and ways to help deal with it. In the article, she quotes me in dealing with some ways you can use legal documents…
The fight for Jacksonville equality is reaching its crescendo. The Jacksonville City Council will soon consider legislation presented to them which if passed would offer protections to the LGBT community. Currently, the Jacksonville human rights ordinance does not provide protection for the gay community. That means that those persons who…
Raising and caring for your children is difficult enough without the additional complications that arise when you are bringing up children in a same-sex relationship. Inherent rights afforded to “straight” or heterosexual couples are non-existent for gay couples. The lack of legal rights for those in relationships not recognized by…
Florida Gay couples await the possibility of a seventh state to legalize gay marriage, as the Washington State Governor introduced legislation on gay marriage early this month. At a news conference Governor Chris Gregoire stated, “Our gay and lesbian families face the same hurdles as heterosexual families – making ends…
Jacksonville Estate Planning Attorneys working in Jacksonville Beach watch for Florida issues about gay and same-sex partner benefits. More and more Florida counties are making positive steps by providing health care and other benefits for same-sex couples. Central Florida’s publicly owned Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) now offers Florida Domestic Partnership…
As of September 20th 2011,the old “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule that has been in force for about 18 years is gone. The end of this policy marks a victory for Mayport gay and lesbian military personnel. Now Mayport gay sailors and soldiers who don’t have to fear the loss…
The grandson of the late evangelist Oral Roberts has “come out” as a gay man. Courageous move for a man that comes from a devout and famous evangelical family. Although he and his family have minimal contact, their opposing views as to living a gay lifestyle has them at opposite…
Provincetown, Massachusetts is the new LGBT place to be. The Williams Institute of Census has said that South Florida is one of the top spots for LGBT population Growth. Florida is the last state to declare the ban on gay adoption as unconstitutional. According to the 2010 Census, Florida has…