Just a few months ago, the answer to this question was no. With the passage of the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act (“Act”) and anticipated signature by Governor Pat Quinn, the answer has changed. Civil unions will become legal in Illinois on July 1, 2011. Section 60 of the Act states: A…
The Illinois General Assembly has passed the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act (“Act”) establishing legal protections for same-sex couples in the state. The Act, first introduced in March 2007 by Representative Greg Harris, and in the Illinois Senate by Senator David Koehler, passed 61-52 in the House on Tuesday, November 30th and…
The last state to ban adoptions by gay men and lesbians conceded defeat Friday. Florida’s Attorney General, Bill McCollum, said there will be no appeal of the case that led to the overturning of the state’s 33-year-old law. The case, decided by Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal, involved licensed foster parent Frank Martin Gill…
This story from NPR about David Wilson and Ron Loso is yet one more example of why same-sex couples need to protect themselves.
A federal judge on Wednesday, August 4th, ruled that California’s Proposition 8, a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, is unconstitutional. But, Chief U.S District Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco also granted a temporary stay, which stops his decision from taking immediate effect. The case, Perry et al v. Schwarzenegger et al, can be read…
No. As of this writing, Illinois law prohibits a marriage between two people of the same sex and does not recognize a same-sex marriage performed in a state where it is legal, for example, Massachusetts. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act states that “a marriage between 2 individuals of the same sex” is…
Crain’s Chicago Business recently ran an article on Collaborative Law. It’s worth a read.
New York’s highest court ruled 7-0 yesterday (May 4) that a non-biological mother is a legal parent and entitled to seek custody and visitation. The New York Court of Appeals based its decision on a Vermont civil union that the non-biological mother and her former partner entered into before the birth of their son. The…
Two gay couples in Texas who were married in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage is legal, are trying to get divorces, but the State of Texas is saying no. Getting a divorce in Massachusetts is not an option since they are now Texas residents. In the first case, the men – who are identified in court…
Today’s five-year anniversary of Terri Schiavo’s death is a reminder that we all have to face end-of-life decisions, for ourselves and often for loved ones. Most of us don’t like talking about end-of-life issues. Even more of us never get around to putting a plan in writing. Then-26-year-old Terri Schiavo didn’t either. Terri was diagnosed…