Published on
February 17, 2010 by
Sandra Slaga
Dennis Engelhard and Kelly Glossip were life partners for almost 15 years. They owned a home together. Glossip’s teenage son from a previous marriage, before Glossip came out as gay, considered Engelhard a stepfather. But Glossip will not be receiving survivor’s benefits from Engelhard’s pension.
Engelhard, a 10-year veteran of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, was [...]
Published on
February 16, 2010 by
Sandra Slaga
Illinois is among several states that have laws which clearly allow unmarried persons, including same-sex couples, to adopt. The Illinois Adoption Act states that “a reputable person of legal age and of either sex” may petition to adopt a child. 750 ILCS 50/2. Illinois courts have held that this applies to unmarried same-sex couples or [...]
Published on
February 8, 2010 by
Sandra Slaga
The Illinois Disposition of Remains Act, 755 ILCS 65/1 et seq., provides one of the more recent tools in the Life Planning Toolbox. The Act allows a person (the “principal”) to provide written instructions for the disposition, including cremation, of his or her remains. It also allows a person to designate an agent to direct [...]
Published on
January 18, 2010 by
Sandra Slaga
You die. You left no will. Maybe you were too busy or just kept putting it off. Maybe you thought you didn’t have enough property or money to justify having a will.
For LGBT persons, a will is not optional. Dying without a will guarantees that your property will be automatically distributed to your legal heirs, [...]
Published on
December 9, 2009 by
Sandra Slaga
You’re critically injured or seriously ill. Or for some other reason you can’t handle your financial matters.
Do you have a plan in place?
Who will take care of paying your bills?
How will your paycheck or other checks get cashed?
In Illinois this document is known as a power of attorney for property. It’s also known as a [...]
Published on
December 2, 2009 by
Sandra Slaga
As an LGBT person or a person living with HIV, do you have a Life Plan Toolbox? Would you get into a boat going out on Lake Michigan without a life preserver? Would you let your loved one do so? If your answer is no, then why would you allow you and [...]