It’s Almost Tax Day: Should Same Sex Couples Amend Their Prior Tax Returns?
Following the Supreme Court’s June, 2013 decision in Windsor, the IRS and the Treasury Department ruled that same-sex couples, legally married in jurisdictions that recognize their marriages, would be treated as married for federal tax purposes. The ruling applies regardless of whether or not the couple lives in a jurisdiction that recognizes marriages of same-sex […]
Estate Planning and Financial Loose Ends After Divorce
Following the emotional and financial turmoil of a divorce, people are understandably focused on their own well-being, helping their children through the transition, and moving on to the next chapter of their lives. This can lead to their forgetting to consider the impact a divorce has on their estate plans – such as wills, beneficiary […]
Are Civil Unions from Other States Recognized in Connecticut?
Kristen recently wrote about what happened to same sex couples who had entered into Connecticut civil unions before marriage was available in Connecticut. Now we turn to the question of whether a civil union entered into in another state or foreign jurisdiction will be recognized in Connecticut. In some cases, this question arises when a Connecticut same […]
But What Happened to Our Connecticut Civil Union?
One of the questions clients ask Freed Marcroft’s lawyers is what happened to their Connecticut civil union once Connecticut same sex couples were able to marry. As you may recall, civil unions for same sex couples were a concept introduced in Vermont in 2000. In April 2005, Connecticut enacted a civil union law, making it the first state […]
Now that Tax Day has Passed, Should Same Sex Married Couples Amend Prior Tax Returns?
What was so special about Tax Day for some married couples? Yesterday, the final day to file 2013 tax returns without an extension, thousands of legally married same sex couples filed federal income tax returns using either the “married filing jointly” or “married filing separately” filing status for the very first time. This is because, […]
Kristen Marcroft to Speak on Same Sex Estate Planning at Quinnipiac Law School
Kristen Marcroft has been invited by Professor Jeffrey A. Cooper to guest teach a class on Same Sex Life and Estate Planning for Quinnipiac University School of Law’s Estate Planning Seminar. Life and Estate planning is important for everyone, but it is even more important for people in same sex relationships — even when they are […]
Life and Estate Planning Remains Critical for Same Sex Couples Following Windsor Decision
Life and estate planning is important for everyone, but it is even more important for people in same sex relationships — even when they are legally married. Unfortunately, the Windsor decision in which the United States Supreme Court found section 3 of DOMA unconstitutional does not change this. A remaining section of DOMA states that that each state […]
Pet Trusts in Husky Country
Our pup, Daphne, is a fixture in Freed Marcroft’s office and has so many opinions of her own that she is even on Twitter at @thatlawyerdog. As a dog lover myself, I understand why one of our trust and estate clients’ common concerns is what will happen if they predecease their pets. Happily, in 2009, Connecticut […]
Transgender People and the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles: Name and Gender Marker Change
Prior to a transgender individual’s being able to able to change his or her name on a Connecticut driver’s license, typically a probate court must have granted a name change petition, and the name must also already be updated with the Social Security Administration. Once those things are accomplished, you can go to a Connecticut Department […]
