Estate Planning in Light of DOMA Ruling

On June 26, 2013, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the federal Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”)1 is an unconstitutional “deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution” (U.S. v. Windsor, 2013).  The...

Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples

On June 1st of this year, the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act(the “Act”) went into effect and the State of Illinois began recognizing Civil Unions.  As a result, members of Civil Unions should enjoy the same protections and benefits allowed...