Families who are part of the LGBTQ community experience the same joys and concerns around legal family matters as those in other groups, yet they remain underserved in Massachusetts. When they need help adopting, getting married, divorcing, or preparing estate plans, special care ensures their wishes will be enforced by the law. Protecting the rights of all involved for now and in the future requires professional guidance from an LGBTQ family law firm in Newton, MA, that understands the nuances of state and federal law.
At DangerLaw, LLC, we are dedicated to helping those families through the changes in their lives with compassion, knowledge, and integrity. We aid individuals, couples, and those in polyamorous relationships by crafting documents that meet their specific needs for wills, trusts, and other estate planning concerns, such as incapacity. Contact us to arrange a complimentary consultation with our Newton LGBTQ family law attorneys today.
What Makes Us the Right Choice for You
Choosing the right law firm for your needs can be intimidating, especially when you have a unique family situation. By combining our backgrounds and experiences with respect for those who may not fit a more traditional mold, our Newton family lawyers strive to offer tailored services to women-headed households, solo aging individuals, unmarried couples, and anyone who proudly stands under the LGBTQ umbrella. We believe we are the right choice for these families because:
- We focus on offering thorough and accurate legal advice.
- We recognize that you and your family members are the experts on what you need.
- We listen to your concerns, educate you about your options, and support you in making informed decisions about your future.
- We offer competitive pricing, allowing you to get the guidance you seek at an appropriate price point.
- We are ready to meet with you at your convenience, with flexible office hours in the evenings, mornings, and weekends.
- We minimize legal jargon to ensure you fully understand the documents you receive.
- We ensure your documents are legally binding and effective.
DangerLaw, LLC uses a collaborative approach for every case, taking advantage of the unique backgrounds of our team. When other DangerLaw, LLC team members listen to a call or attend a meeting with you, you benefit from their perspective and experience in other cases that may have a bearing on yours. Ultimately, our Newton family attorneys always work to produce the most impactful and legally binding documents so you can have peace of mind about your family’s needs.
We Handle All Family Law Matters, With a Focus on LGBTQ+ Families
When you put your trust in our hands, we aid you with any family law matter to develop a strong solution that is appropriate for your specific circumstance. Our LGBTQ family law attorneys manage a variety of cases, covering topics such as:
Collaborative Law for Divorce
Divorce is often contentious, but when both parties are dedicated to resolving things peacefully, we can use Collaborative Law to accomplish a quicker, less stressful solution. Both parties use their own lawyers and work with a professional and neutral coach, financial expert, and others to reach compromises on asset division, concerns about children, and other priorities. Through open and honest dialogue, our LGBTQ family law lawyers collaboratively negotiate a formal separation agreement that can be presented to the court for approval.
Utilizing alternative dispute resolution methods such as collaborative divorce and mediation, couples are able to reduce their expenses, maintain privacy surrounding unique or complicated matters, and handle the divorce on their own timetable. The key is that both parties voluntarily participate and focus on achieving an agreement that satisfies each person’s needs, especially if there are children involved. However, if this approach fails, couples can still resort to a formal divorce process.
Prenuptial and Post-Marital Agreements
For any individuals considering marriage, many of their thoughts may focus on the ceremony and their happiness. Yet, discussing an agreement that clarifies expectations during the union and in the event it ends can be one of the wisest steps that a new couple takes together. The process of hammering out prenuptial and post-marital agreements requires unblinking honesty and openness with one another, and these conversations can be a valuable test of a relationship’s strength.
Benefit is derived from creating these agreements when bringing children into the marriage from previous relationships. Parents can establish guidelines for childcare expectations, such as parenting time and visitation with extended family members. By documenting their desires about asset distribution upon death, parents can provide legal backing so their offspring receive their intended share of an inheritance.
Massachusetts does not allow couples to address issues of child custody or child support in a marital agreement. Those are decided at the time of need by the judge, who always puts the children’s best interests first. Parents can work with their attorneys to craft a parenting plan to present to the court, but the judge will have the final say.
Adoption
Welcoming children into the family is a joyous event, whether through birth or adoption. In many instances, Massachusetts couples and families may wish to solidify a loving relationship through a non-biological parent or partner adopting a child with a biological parent (Confirmatory Adoption). Others may wish to secure their positions in other circumstances or for other reasons. Regardless, it is vital to understand that while Massachusett’s policy toward LGBTQ families is very friendly, many other states’ statutes are not.
It is imperative that those adopting children ensure their legal standing is well-protected in the event of travel or relocation. At DangerLaw, LLC, your LGBTQ family law attorney will thoroughly review your needs against all state and federal laws to develop documents that stand up to legal scrutiny.
Child Custody and Child Support Matters
Even in an amicable divorce, negotiating child custody and support can be challenging. Under Massachusetts law, custody can be physical, which describes where the children spend their time, or legal, which dictates who can make decisions about the children’s education, healthcare, and religious upbringing. Custody can also be sole, where only one parent has rights, or shared, where parents share time and decisions.
To calculate child support, the state uses statutory guidelines that evaluate each parent’s parenting time, income, and living expenses. It also considers medical, educational, and other costs for each child. Aside from property division and child support, custody matters are some of the most contentious during a divorce. Our Newton LGBTQ family law lawyers strategize with clients as to how to reduce the emotional temperature between the parties and focus on meeting the best interests of the child so everyone benefits.
LGBTQ+ Estate Planning
People of all ages should invest time in estate planning. From college age through retirement, the various changes life brings mean you should regularly update your last will and testament, as well as how you wish your assets to be distributed. For same-sex couples or those without legally recognized beneficiaries, creating documents that transfer your legacy can be invaluable in knowing your wishes for your desired beneficiaries are secure.
Another critical part of LGBTQ estate planning is preparing documents that describe your wishes should you become incapacitated for a short while or forever. In the past, many LGBTQ partners were cruelly denied a say in their loved one’s health decisions or financial matters because the law did not provide them with rights. By working with a DangerLaw, LLC Newton family attorney to create health care proxies and durable power of attorney documents, you and your family members, regardless of your relationship, can ensure your instructions will be respected.
Protecting your assets and money through a trust can allow you and your beneficiaries to avoid probate court and some tax burdens. We help you create and manage trusts and can guide your trustees after your death in administering their terms. In the event your will or trust is contested by others, we can represent your beneficiaries to protect their rights and honor your final wishes.
Massachusetts Laws and History Pertaining to LGBTQ Rights
Most states have laws on the books that discuss same-sex marriage, while others have included legislation regarding adoption and rights for transgender persons. Here are a few critical Massachusetts laws and court decisions that each Newton LGBTQ family law attorney considers when performing work for our LGBTQ clients:
- St. 2008, c. 216: This act repealed the 1913 laws that kept same-sex couples from marrying within the Commonwealth.
- Della Corte v. Ramirez, 81 Mass. App. Ct. 906 (2012): This ruling provides legitimacy for same-sex parents of children produced or adopted within the union.
- MGL c. 46, § 13(e): This act allows those 18 or older to change their sex marker on their birth certificate without requiring healthcare documentation or court order.
- MGL c. 46, § 13(l): This section of the same act above allows couples to amend their marriage record in the event one or both partners change their name or gender during the marriage.
- Massachusetts Parentage Act: Effective January 1, 2025, this bill removes outdated language and limitations to allow greater freedom in recognizing parentage, such as through assistive reproduction or when there is a de facto parent in a family.
We also help families assess the potential impact other states’ laws or federal legislation could have on their decisions. Overall, we are dedicated to helping you whenever you need to adjust your agreements throughout your life while also building documents that stand the test of time. When legislation affects previously prepared documents, your Newton family or estate planning lawyer from DangerLaw, LLC is ready to help update them so clients remain protected.
We Focus on Serving the Unique Needs of LGBTQ Families
Many aspects of family life for LGBTQ families are the same as for those in more traditional relationships. Everyone wants joy, peace, and security so their loved ones can grow to be healthy and happy. Yet, because the laws surrounding the rights of LGBTQ individuals and families are not fully settled and under threat, unfair societal influences can be more difficult for same-sex couples and those with multiple partners.
For example, in situations where couples are divorcing because one parent has come out as having a different sexual orientation or gender, the other parent may attempt to use this during negotiations. However, under the law, this kind of attack cannot be used to limit a parent’s time or visitation with their children, and your Newton LGBTQ family law lawyer will fight fiercely to ensure you are not punished for living your truth. We also work to protect children who may be transitioning from any potential harm and advocate to modify custody orders when needed after a divorce is finalized.
You deserve to have legal representation that respects and champions your right to have the life you want for yourself and your children. Each family lawyer at our firm is committed to treating each person who chooses our firm like family and as if they are our only client. We believe in the ideals of honesty, integrity, accuracy, and excellence in everything we do to guide you through the ups and downs of family life in Massachusetts.
Turn to DangerLaw, LLC for Superior Compassion and Service for LGBTQ Family Law Concerns
Every family deserves care and protection under the law, and at DangerLaw, LLC, our LGBTQ family attorneys work to ensure each client receives top-notch service with that in mind. We are especially focused on providing support to those in the LGBTQ community across Massachusetts. You do not need to face legal concerns on your own when you put your worries in our hands.
Our LGBTQ family lawyers stand ready to discuss your circumstances and answer your questions. During your initial case review, we provide our best legal advice so you can make an educated decision about how to move forward. When you hire us, we keep you updated on your case’s progress, putting the full weight of our firm’s experience and knowledge to bear on your needs. When our work is through, we like to stay in touch as your life changes so we can keep your estate plan, adoption needs, and other documents updated and legally binding.
Take a moment to arrange a meeting with an LGBTQ family attorney by using our online form or calling (857) 767-7480 today.