Those were the words used by Justice Kennedy to describe our country’s evolving understanding of same-sex marriage. In his opinion finding the Defense of Marriage Act to be unconstitutional, he declared that “same-sex couples should have the right to marry and so live with pride in themselves and their union in status of equality with all other married persons.”
I am as proud today as I have ever been. As a lawyer and activist who has dedicated myself to protecting the rights of same-sex couples, I am also proud to be a part of a law firm which unconditionally supports the work that I do.
Of course, there are many questions yet to be answered on how today’s decisions will impact the estate planning documents that remain a vital part of protecting our clients. It appears that couples that were married in states that have such laws will be able to reduce their estate taxes and be eligible for other benefits. We still are not sure what it all means, but you can be assured I will be studying the opinions and will be conferring with many of the experts in this area, so that I can provide up-to-date guidance.
If you are interested in learning more about the impact of these rulings on your family, I am pleased to announce that I will be speaking at a free program on this topic hosted by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on July 10, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. An RSVP is required by Monday, July 1, either by phone at (202) 416-8365 or by e-mail at RSVP@kennedy-center.org.
If you’d like more information about the program or our estate planning work, please contact me directly at (240) 778-2330 or ljacobs@mcmillanmetro.com or visit our specialized website at: www.PartnerPlanning.com.