Services
Representing same-sex couples among a wide range of kinds of families for more than four decades.
Our attorneys are knowledgeable about the complex and evolving legal issues in LGBTQ family law, and we can help you understand and compare the friendliness of the different jurisdictions surrounding D.C. on matters of concern to the LGBTQ community.
Fortunately, the laws of Maryland and the District of Columbia have evolved from authorizing domestic partnerships to establishing marriage as a reality for same-sex couples. The laws of Virginia remain less advantageous, but we nonetheless represent same-sex couples in Virginia as well.
Thoughtful, Well-Informed Counsel
We counsel same-sex couples in the areas of marriage, domestic partnerships, divorce, custody, estate planning, and relationship agreements. Services include:
- Advice on premarital agreements and the drafting and execution of these agreements
- Advice during an ongoing relationship on matters such as post-marital agreements and estate and benefit planning
- Representation at the time of dissolution of a same-sex relationship including the issues of custody, support, division of property, and related topics for domestic partners and spouses.
The District: A Very Friendly Capital
The District of Columbia can be a particularly advantageous jurisdiction to same-sex couples from across the U.S. Not only are same sex marriages recognized in the District, but, in certain circumstances, a same-sex couple who marries in D.C. can later get divorced in D.C. without the need to establish residence here.
We recently helped one of the partners in a same-sex relationship living in Florida (where same-sex marriages are not recognized) negotiate the terms of a premarital agreement. The parties were then able to get married in the District of Columbia with the assurance that they could always get divorced in D.C. if needed.
We have also been involved in numerous custody cases involving same-sex parents. Our focus has been on keeping these cases out of the courts, where there continue to be remnants of homophobic prejudice, and in the hands of the parents who are committed to good outcomes for their children which preserve and support their long-term relationships with both parents.
In addition, we have represented numerous LGBTQ clients in resolving the financial aspects of their relationships, including joint ownership of a home, spousal support, and other property issues.