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Same-Sex Marriage
Following the Goodridge decision, we have reviewed and revised our estate planning and related documents and procedures to better serve our clients who may enter same-sex marriages. We are prepared for life after Goodridge ...are you?
Major Associated Areas of Practice
Responsibilites of marriage touch numerous aspects of a couple's life, below are some major areas which will be significantly affected.
Trusts & Estates Planning:
• Estate Planning in a world with spousal shares and no marital deduction
• Wills, trusts and prenuptual aggreements drawn with a view to overcoming the obstacles of the Defense of Marriage Act
• Property issues for same sex couples
• Employment benefit and retirement planning for same sex couples
• Business planning for businesses owned by same sex couples
More Info - Trusts & Estates Group
Family Law & Divorce:
• Preparation of pre-marital contracts to protect business and personal assets in the event of dissolution of the marriage or civil union by death or legal proceedings
• Assist Massachusetts residents in dissolving Vermont civil unions and Massachusetts same-sex marriages
More Info - Divorce & Family Law
Tax:
• Tax planning for a union with joint interests without joint returns
Labor, Employment & Employee Benefits:
• Assist with employee benefits, tax and retirement planning
• Asset management through Burns & Levinson Asset Management LLC
• Review and preparation of employee benefit plans to ensure legal compliance
• Review and preparation of employee handbooks to ensure legal compliance
• Advice and counsel regarding differing obligations under state and federal law with respect to employee benefits and employment policies
More Info - Labor, Employment & Employee Benefits
Bankruptcy:
• Filing joint bankruptcy cases
Articles and Publications
"Marriage and Estate Planning Under Goodridge v. DPH (Boston Bar Journal, November/December 2004,)" by Lisa M. Cukier
"Tax and Estate Planning for Same Sex Marriages," (Client Advisory, December 2003), by Howard D. Medwed
"Same-Sex Marriage: Goodridge v. DPH," (Focus, Winter 2004, pg. 1), by Lisa M. Cukier
"Separate is not Equal: Same Sex Marriage," (Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, February 14, 2000), by Lisa M. Cukier
"Employer Quandaries on Same-Sex Marriage," (B&L Employment Solutions Update, December 2003), by Evelyn A. Haralampu
"'Lawrence' has little effect on taxes, for now," (The National Law Journal, March 1, 2004), by Howard D. Medwed
Speaking Engagements
Lisa M. Cukier was the speaker to the Estate Planning Counsel in Hyannis on "Same-Sex Marriage and Estate Planning After Goodridge" on March 8, 2005
Lisa M. Cukier was Program Chair and Presenter at the MCLE Program "Same-Sex Marriage and Estate PLanning" on February 10, 2005
Lisa M. Cukier was Program Chair and Presenter at the MCLE Program "Elder Law Litigation and Advocacy" on February 2, 2005
Lisa M. Cukier was Program Chair and Presenter, Mass Bar Association seminar "Turf Wars in Guardianship and Probate Litigation" at the MCLE Conference Center on January 25, 2005.
Lisa M. Cukier was Guest Speaker, at the Boston Bar Association's Program, "Nuances in Guardianship Law," on November 9, 2004.
Lisa M. Cukier was speaker, at the Probate & Family Court 2004 Judicial Conference on October 1, 2004 regarding the newly promulgated Probate & Family Court Standing Order 1-04.
Lisa M. Cukier, was the guest speaker at the Boston Bar Association's Program, "Nuances in Guardianship Law," on November 9, 2004.
Lisa M. Cukier and Donald E.Vaughan presented at "The Impact of Goodridge Decision on Financial Planning for Same-Sex Couples" seminar sponsored by Merrill Lynch September 2004 in Provincetown, MA.
Lisa M. Cukier was the Program Chair at the Same-Sex Marriage seminar sponsored by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) in Northampton on June 10, 2004.
Lisa M. Cukier was the Program Chair at the Same-Sex Marriage seminar sponsored by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) in Boston, MA at the Winter Street Conference Center on June 17, 2004.
Lisa M. Cukier participated as presenter to the family service officers regarding same-sex marriage issues at the Marlboro Satellite of Middlesex Probate and Family Court on May 7, 2004.
Lisa M. Cukier participated as program chair, for the "Marriage of Same-Sex Couples: Unraveling the Legal Issues" event at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) on January 15, 2004.
Lisa M. Cukier was interviewed regarding the Goodridge Same-Sex Marriage case on the live call-in cable TV show, "Legal Lines" on Channel 9 (BNN). The show aired from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on January 21, 2004.
Lisa M. Cukier spoke at the Boston Probate and Estate Planning Forum on issues surrounding gay and lesbian couples on June 4, 2004. The Forum was held at the Union Club located at 8 Park Street in Boston.
News Quotes
Lisa M. Cukier was interviewed on "The David Brudnoy Show" on WBZ radio on May 18, 2004. Lisa spoke about the general legal matters associated with same-sex marriage.
Lisa M. Cukier was interviewed by R.D. Sahl regarding the legal issues surrounding the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts in the "Business Day" segment on NECN News on May 17, 2004.
Lisa M. Cukier was interviewed by Tom Ashbrook on the "On Point" show on National Public Radio regarding the legalization of same-sax marriage in Massachusetts on May 17, 2004.
Lisa Cukier and Evelyn Haralampu were quoted in the article, "Massachusetts weddings a legal Pandora's box," by Joe Crea in the Washington Blade on May 14, 2004.
Lisa M. Cukier was quoted in the article, "Obscure law may stop out-of-state Mass. marriages" in the Washington Blade on March 5, 2004.
Lisa M. Cukier was interviewed regarding the Goodridge Same-Sex Marriage case on the live call-in cable TV show, "Legal Lines" on Channel 9 (BNN). The show aired from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on January 21, 2004.
Lisa M. Cukier was quoted in the article, "Gay marriages in Canada may cause dilemma across border," by Jules Crittenden in the Boston Herald on June 19, 2003.
Nancy Van Tine was quoted in the article, "Trend Is Toward Greater Rights For Gays In Custody Disputes" by Diana Digges in Lawyers Weekly USA on March 31, 2003.
