by Arthur Geffen | Aug 16, 2012 | Estate Planning, LGBT, LGBT Issues
A federal court found that the Defense of Marriage Act’s (DOMA) denial of equal benefits to same-sex couples violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fifth Amendment, and awarded reimbursement for a tax bill paid on estate taxes to the surviving spouse of a...
by Arthur Geffen | Oct 18, 2011 | LGBT, LGBT Issues
One of the nastiest dimensions of the battle over same-sex marriage has been the lack of access to divorce courts for same-sex married couples that reside in non-recognition states. While you might think that anti-gay judges would be thrilled to help these gay...
by Arthur Geffen | Jul 8, 2011 | LGBT, LGBT Issues
Same-sex couples can get married in five states and the District of Columbia—and in New York starting July 25. But the happily-ever-after part doesn’t necessarily extend to their personal finances. Such couples still can’t file a joint federal tax...
by Arthur Geffen | Jun 3, 2011 | LGBT, LGBT Issues
I thought this was kind of interesting…… sort of “Watch the Pendulum Swing!” A gay softball association in the US can limit the number of heterosexual players on its teams, a federal judge ruled Thursday. The decision to allow the North American Gay Amateur Athletic...
by Arthur Geffen | Jan 17, 2011 | Income Tax, LGBT, LGBT Issues
A decision in May by the Internal Revenue Service that was hailed as a step toward equality for same-sex couples has instead become a headache for tens of thousands of gay and lesbian families in California. Same-sex couples who are registered domestic partners...
by Arthur Geffen | Dec 20, 2010 | Estate Planning, Estate Planning Solutions, LGBT, LGBT Issues
Until the time comes when same sex marriages are recognized under state and federal laws in the same way as heterosexual marriages, same sex couples need to take estate planning seriously. Why? Because without an estate plan, in most places same sex couples...
