Source Dear Yetta,   Recently my partner and I found out that we are expecting our first child. Since we are married, do we still need to do a second-parent adoption after our child is born?   — Monica   Dear Monica, Congratulations! That’s a great question. Although the landmark decision in Obergefell was a Read more about Ask Yetta: LGBTQ Second-Parent Adoption[…]

Source Dear Yetta, I like to wear suits, vests and ties at work. However, my job recently imposed a gender-specific dress code policy that makes it mandatory for women to wear skirts and blouses. Is this allowable? — Stephanie Dear Stephanie, Good question. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal Read more about Ask Yetta: Gender Specific Dress Codes[…]

Source Dear Yetta, I’m getting married shortly, and my wife and I travel quite a bit, including states without equal marriage. A year after the Supreme Court struck down DOMA, do we still have to worry about things like a hospital denying us visitation because it doesn’t recognize our relationship? Carnie         Read more about Ask Yetta: Equality Out of State[…]

Source Dear Yetta, Just over a year ago my wife and I were married in New York, and since then, we’ve moved to Ohio. She’s an American citizen and I’m not. Now that the Supreme Court has overturned DOMA, can I become a citizen? Does it matter that Ohio doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages? —Married in Read more about Ask Yetta: Marriage Post-DOMA[…]

Source Dear Yetta, My wife and I recently had our second child, and she had to go through the process of adopting our first child. Now that we’re married and our marriage is recognized by the state and feds, do we need to go through the adoption process on our second child? We’re both named Read more about Ask Yetta: Second-Parent Adoption[…]

Source Dear Yetta, I recently inherited some family heirlooms and a not-insignificant inheritance. My wife and I agreed that the money should go to my nieces and nephews if we don’t have kids. How do we keep this money separate from the assets I pool with my wife and make sure the heirlooms go to Read more about Ask Yetta: Inheritances and Heirlooms[…]

Source Dear Yetta, A couple months ago my girlfriend’s little brother moved to New York and we agreed to let him stay in our spare room for free until he found his footing. A month ago my girlfriend and I broke up and she moved out, but guess what she forgot? Her freeloading baby bro. Read more about Ask Yetta: How Do I Kick Out My Ex’s Brother?[…]

Source Dear Yetta: I was in a relationship with my partner for more than 20 years. She recently passed away. We were not married but she did have a will. We owned a house which she didn’t mention in the will because we thought it would automatically pass to me since my name was on Read more about Advice: Property in Will[…]

Source Dear Yetta, My partner and I took advantage of the recently passed marriage equality law in New York and tied the knot. I am trying to make plans for the end of the year and I’m assuming we will file our tax returns jointly. Is there anything I should know about doing so? And, Read more about Advice: Marriage, Taxes and Pre-Nups[…]

Source I wanted to take a moment to answer some reoccurring questions that have emerged since the passage of marriage equality in New York State. Many have asked how this historic legislation impacts couples living here who are considering getting married. Governor Cuomo’s signing of our Marriage Equality Act is a huge victory for our Read more about Marriage Equality Act, Your Rights[…]

Source Dear Yetta: I am a lesbian and have been out at work my entire career. I was recently fired after being employed for more than seven years at a small financial company in New York. A new manager had transferred to my department and made my work environment unbearable.  No one liked her. She Read more about Wrongful Termination?[…]

Source Dear Yetta: My partner and I have been together for a little over three years. We are very happy, although we don’t have much. We live together in her apartment, which is rent stabilized, and we consider the furniture, jewelry and other assets in the apartment ours jointly. The problem is that my partner’s Read more about Inheritance Rights Without A Will?[…]

Source Dear Yetta, My children from a previous (heterosexual) marriage have never accepted my current partner. I made the mistake of telling them that when I die, I want everything to go to my partner first, and since then they’ve been hinting that they might try to challenge my will. How can I make a Read more about Advice: Protecting My Partner Through My Will[…]

Source Dear Yetta: My partner and I filed for a civil union in New Jersey two years ago. We had been together for three years prior to this, and in 2009 she gave birth to our first child. My name is on the birth certificate and the baby has my last name. However, we never Read more about Advice: Adoption After Separation[…]

Source Dear Yetta: My partner and I have been together for three years, and we think it’s time to tie the knot. We live in New York, but we would like to get married in Massachusetts. However, I’ve heard that only people who live in Massachusetts can marry in the state. Is that true? Or Read more about Is Getting Married In Massachusetts Really Legal?[…]

Source In lieu of my normal column, I want to bring GO readers’ attention to the recent closing of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village. I know what you’re thinking: how is St. Vincent’s’ closure an LGBT issue? St. Vincent’s Hospital was a nonprofit public charity hospital that served a significant number of lesbian, gay, Read more about Yetta Talks About The Closing Of St. Vincent’s Hospital[…]

Source Dear Yetta: My partner and I are buying our first apartment together. I am very excited, but also nervous. It’s the biggest purchase we have ever made together, and quite honestly the biggest purchase I have ever made in my life. My broker told me that I should put the mortgage in my name Read more about Yetta Kurland On Buying Your First Apartment[…]

Source Dear Yetta: My partner and I were married in Massachusetts a while back and have since broken up.  We never got a divorce because I didn’t think same sex marriage was recognized in New York, where we live.  However, I just found out my partner wants to sue for divorce and last week someone Read more about Same-Sex Divorce[…]

Source Dear Yetta: I am doing estate planning with my partner of five years and recently the issue of our pet teacup Chihuahua came up. We have had him since he was 3 months old and he is like a child to us. We know how important it is to put together documents that protect Read more about Yetta Kurland On Estate Planning For Your Pets[…]

Source Dear Yetta: I am a lesbian but am not out at work. I have been having problems lately at my job. Last week my boss told me I had to start “dressing more appropriately” for the job. When I asked what that meant, she said to wear more makeup and skirts. I’m scared I’m Read more about Yetta Answers Your Questions About Being Out At Work[…]

Source Dear Yetta: I am transitioning and wonder how to change my identification to reflect my new name and gender. How do I do this? It’s confusing. * * * I know the process of changing government issue IDs can be overwhelming, transphobia aside. It’s a huge issue, made more problematic these days with broader Read more about Yetta G. Kurland, Attorney At Law, On Changing Your Legal Gender[…]

Source Dear Yetta: My partner and I are putting together legal documents to protect our relationship. What is the difference between a health care proxy and a living will? Also what does it mean to file as Domestic Partners versus a Domestic Partnership Agreement? * * * Simple but important questions. A health care proxy Read more about Yetta G. Kurland Answers Your Real-Life Legal Questions About Legally Protecting Your Relationship[…]

Source Dear Yetta: I am in the process of breaking up with my girlfriend of five years. It has been a very difficult break-up and one of the sticking points is that we had been living in an apartment which is mine. I had inherited it from my family before I even met her. She Read more about Yetta G. Kurland On Property Claims And Breaking Up[…]

Source Dear Yetta: My partner and I are separating after eight years of being together. We have three children. I am the biological parent, but my ex adopted them when we were together. I really can’t stand her these days. Is there a way to undo the adoption? * * * Breakups can be very Read more about Divorcing Your Partner When You Have Children[…]

Source Dear Yetta: I am American but my partner is Brazilian. We have been togeth- er for 14 years.Three years ago we were married in Massachusetts and we recently adopted a child. My partner is here on a student visa. How do I sponsor her to become a permanent resident? –An International Family * * Read more about How Do I Sponsor My Partner To Become A Permanent Resident?[…]

Source Dear Yetta: My girlfriend and I have been together for five years. This summer she left me for another woman. It has ripped me apart. I have lost my friends and my family. I was so upset I threw her out of the apartment we lived in, which is technically hers. She says I Read more about Is Staying In My Ex’s Apartment Legal?[…]

Source Dear Yetta: I am writing because I don’t know what to do. My partner and I broke up a few months ago, but she has recently become very antagonistic. We had adopted a pit bull together, and now she is demanding that the dog is hers. The problem is that she is really abusive Read more about What Do I Do In A Custody Battle Over A Pet?[…]

Source Dear Yetta: My partner and I have lived together in the Village for the past 10 years. The rent is very affordable and we are lucky to have the apartment. The problem is that my partner, Lisa, is not on the lease. I am older than her and I wanted to make sure she Read more about I Can’t Get My Partner On My Lease[…]

Source Dear Yetta: I recently broke up with my girlfriend of 3 years. We had executed wills and other estate planning documents when we had first moved in together, including durable powers of attorney for each other. When I left the apartment I shredded all of my documents and told her to do the same. Read more about My Ex Emptied My Bank Account[…]

Source Dear Yetta: I am having serious problems with my landlord. Two weeks ago I came home and found the electricity in my building was turned off. I have not had hot water during this time, either. I’ve spoken with the other tenants in the building and they are experiencing the same problems. It is Read more about What To Do When Your Landlord Hasn’t Turned The Heat On![…]

Source Dear Yetta: I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and while most of my thoughts have been around my treatment and although I am optimistic about my recovery, I still want to take steps to make sure my partner and our 3-year-old daughter are protected in case anything should happen to me. I executed Read more about My Partner Is Diagnosed with Cancer[…]

Source Dear Yetta, My partner is extremely ill. She has been in the hospital for quite a while but her condition has recently worsened and now her parents are trying to prevent me from seeing her. I have to argue with them over every visit and every little thing that comes up. They are also Read more about What To Do When Doctors Stop You From Seeing Your Hospitalized Partner[…]

Source Dear Yetta: My domestic partner and I have been living together in a rent controlled apartment in Manhattan. The lease is in her name, but I have lived here with her for the past three years. My partner was recently diagnosed with a serious illness and we have started planning our future with the Read more about Rent Controlled In Manhattan[…]