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Q Domestic Partnership protection
  Jul 31, 2008

My partner and I want to take care of the right paperwork to protect our relationship in the case of an emergency. What do I do?


A Response from Ms. Kendell

First, it is great that you are addressing this proactively - too often we see terrible consequences when something unexpected happens for couples who have not done what they needed to do to legally protect their relationship.

I would suggest that you take a look at a book or publication that will give you a detailed overview of the different documents that same-sex couples need to put in place - this will give you a sense of the different pieces and help you keep track of the steps you need to take. NCLR has a publication called Lifelines, which describes the different documents same-sex couples can use to protect themselves.

You might also want to check out the estates, wills, and property information put out by NOLO, a publisher that produces easy-to-understand legal materials. Another helpful resources is NOLO's 3)A Legal Guide For Lesbian and Gay Couples.

You can also contact NCLR's Legal Information Helpline at info@nclrights.org for help in finding an LGBT-friendly attorney near you to assist you in putting these protections in place.

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