N.J. woman to fight for partner's estate

[kweerwolf]

A Superior Court judge on Monday is set to hear a request involving the rights of same-sex couples to administer a partner's estate after the partner's death.


The case involves a Perth Amboy woman who was in a same-sex relationship for more than two decades but was unable to administer her partner's estate after her unexpected death.


In her lawsuit against the Middlesex County surrogate, Betty Jordan, a 66-year-old retiree, claims the surrogate's rejection of her request violates her civil rights.


The lawsuit was filed by attorney Antoinette R. Holland, a Merchantville native and longtime friend of Jordan and her partner, Rene Price.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051016/NEWS01/510160338/1006

[bluedawg12]

1. Did they have a will, power of attorney, and a living will?

If not then it points to the importance of getting a strong, qualified, GLBT savvy attorney to protect a couples rights.

[murray hill farm]

2. Is this happening because there was no will?

While i was in a long term relationship with my partner...not a same sex partner, but we were not married. Since i did not want to marry, but did want to protect him if i should die, i redid my will to leave him half of my estate should i die. Once we were no longer together, it was an easy step to just redo my will again.

[bluedawg12]

3. These legal documents are a must for non-traditional long term

relationships.

Heck, this is what the Schiavo case hinged on -- no written will.