THE PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR DREAMS CHECKLIST
Vermont Freedom to Marry’s pamphlet, subtitled “Legal and Financial Planning Strategies for Same-Sex Couples & LGBTQ Individuals”:
Download 2012 Protect Yourself, Your Family, etc Checklist
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT: CAN I DO ANYTHING NOW TO PRESERVE MY RIGHTS?
A publication courtesy of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD): At the moment, because of DOMA, the marriages of same-sex couples are erased for all federal purposes. In the Social Security context, this means that a person married to someone of the same sex cannot claim any of the Social Security benefits that would otherwise be due a spouse. This publication spells out the eligibility criteria for different Social Security benefits, how to apply for benefits, and how to keep that application alive while GLAD challenges DOMA in court.
Download GLAD’s Social Security Benefits & DOMA
TAX TIME AND PRESERVING YOUR FEDERAL RIGHTS
A Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) publication on preserving one’s tax rights while DOMA is being challenged.
Download GLAD’s Tax Time and Preserving Your Federal Rights
Civil Union & Marriage-Related Questions:
State of Vermont Judiciary
Civil Union and Marriage Related (Divorce. Annulment, Desertion, Separation)
To dissolve a marriage or civil union where both partners live somewhere other than Vermont, visit this page to determine eligibility and download forms:
Nonresident Divorce OR Civil Union Dissolution
GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders)
GLAD’s Family Law in Vermont page
GLAD’s lawyer referral service
LGBTQ-WELCOMING PROFESSIONALS
This list represents individuals and organizations that have self-identified as LBGTQ-friendly. This is not meant to be an endorsement by VFMTF or an exhaustive list.
ACCOUNTANTS & TAX PROFESSIONALS:
Colleen L. Montgomery, CPA
Montgomery & Merrill PC
110 Main Street
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: 802 864-6565
Fax: 802 864-6566
www.2beancounters.com
Small public accounting firm providing tax and consulting services for individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations. We prepare quite a few tax returns for civil union and married couples.
Kenneth M. Nussbaum, CPA/PFS, JD
K. Nussbaum & Associates
PO Box 425
Richmond, VT 05477
(802) 264-9629 / Fax (800) 405-2930
www.knussbaum.com
[email protected]
I work with many LBGT taxpayers; please let me know if you need additional details.
Ronald J Theissen, CPA, CFP
Skygate Financial Group, LLC
Tax and Financial Planning
Henry Office Building
PO Box 442
116 Main Street
Chester, VT 05143
802-875-8100 / Fax 802-875-8101
[email protected]
rjtcpa.com & skygatefinancial.com
Jeff Towsley
802-238-5454
WWW.EFILE4LESS.COM
Fast, low-cost tax filing and bookkeeping. I handle tax preparation for several couples in same sex marriages. I do not charge for the extra 1040 necessary for a state joint return. I am not a CPA but have been doing taxes professionally for over 10 years. I hope to be an enrolled agent for the IRS before the start of this year’s season. I welcome all to join my growing base of satisfied clients
Michael Yantachka
H&R Block
The Gateway Shopping Center
570 Shelburne Road
South Burlington, VT 05403
802-658-1040
[email protected]
www.hrblock.com
As a tax professional with 7 years of experience at H&R Block, I enjoy the interaction with my clients as I prepare and submit their federal and state returns accurately and quickly. My primary goal is to ensure that every one of my clients is totally satisfied with the work I have done for them.
ATTORNEYS:
Patricia A. Ayars
Ayars & Associates, L.L.C.
95C Oak Street
Glastonbury, CT 06033
(860) 652-7070 / Fax: (860) 652-7073
I am a Connecticut lesbian attorney with a general practice. One of my practice areas is immigration. I am also pursuing an LLM in Estate Planning and Elder Law. I have a “life package” for couples that provides a will, springing power of attorney, medical power of attorney, advance directives and co-habitation contract. Linda and I have been married for two years.
Patricia G. Benelli
Dakin & Benelli, PC
PO Box 499
Chester, VT 05143
(802) 875-4000 / Fax (802) 875-4200
[email protected]
I am an attorney who focuses primarily on family law, and I have been practicing in Chester, Vermont, for almost 25 years. As a longtime supporter of equal rights for the LGBT community, I am very willing to help LGBT couples (and singles) to deal with the discriminatory laws still out there. I am also a Justice of the Peace, so can perform marriage ceremonies.
Susan M. Buckholz, Esq.
LAW OFFICES OF SUSAN M. BUCKHOLZ P.C.
PO Box 1421
Quechee, Vermont 05059-1421
(802) 296-2209 / Fax (802) 296-2742
[email protected]
I am an attorney in private practice with a focus on family estate planning and probate work. I am available for, and happy to provide consultation and/or representation on any issues within those areas that affect LGBT persons and families.
Marikate E. Kelley, Esq.
1233 Shelburne Road, Suite D-2
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 652-9955
[email protected]
Specific to the LGBT community my practice includes drafting of wills, donor agreements and adoptions.
C. Creek Kelsey, JD, MSL
Attorney and Counselor at Law
Law in the Public Interest, L3C*
98 Norford Lake Road
Thetford Center, VT 05075
(802) 649-2342/5171 phone & fax
[email protected]
I would be proud to help families with needs particular to our community. I practice a boutique area of consumer law that defends debtors from predatory lenders, harassment collection efforts and the often bogus suits brought for collection. I have found a disproportionate number of my clients are of family persons. I also would be happy to brush up on areas of family law peculiar to our population as necessary. My fees run from pro bono on some types of cases to sliding scale where necessary to accommodate lower income clients.
Deborah Lashman, Esq.
DEBORAH LASHMAN, P.C.
187 St. Paul Street, Suite 3B-1
Burlington, VT 05401
[email protected]
(802) 861-7800 / Fax (802) 861-7803
Law Office of Erin L. Smith
PO Box 4157
Burlington, VT 05406-4157
(802) 862-1400 & (800) 681-1440 / Fax: (802) 862-1400 – press Start key
www.erinsmithlaw.com
I am an attorney entering my 16th year of practice. I have been a litigator for the majority of my years in practice, handling criminal and civil matters, as well as handling all kinds of areas of the general practice of law, from wills and estates to guardianships and contracts. I have a very broad range of legal experience. In addition, I have been a mediator for 11 years, entering my 12th year. In addition, I was first trained in Collaborative Law in 2002 or 2003, I believe, and have been a member of the Chittenden County Collaborative Law Practice group since its inception in 2007.
I am particularly interested in helping LGBT couples enter into mediated agreements through the process of mediation, as these agreements help avoid conflict and problems in the future, and also teach people skills that they can use in all their relationships, building their capacity for better relationships and better conflict resolution.
Jennifer Wagner, Esq.
Marsh Wagner & Winters, P.C.
62 Court Street
Middlebury, VT 05753
(802) 388-4026
marshandwagner.com
I am a lawyer, and I help GLBT in my practice. I handle second parent adoptions, wills, trusts, estates, advanced directives, civil union dissolution, divorce and relief from abuse. I also have a general practice.
FINANCIAL/INVESTMENT ADVISORS:
Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup
Philanthropic Advisor
Vermont Community Foundation
3 Court Street
Middlebury, VT 05753
(802) 388-3355 x295
Derek N.H. Notman, ChFC® , CLU® , LUTCF
Investment Adviser Representative
Chartered Financial Consultant®, Financial Adviser*
Notman, Muehl Associates
36 N. Main Street
St. Albans, VT 05478
(802) 528-5163
(802) 528-5323
www.notmanmuehl.com
www.eaglestrategies.com
*Offering investment advisory services through Eagle Strategies, a Registered Investment Adviser
Registered Representative offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC)
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS:
Kym Boyman, MD
Vermont Gynecology (also: Cheryl Gibson, MD; and Susan F. Smith, MD)
1775 Williston Road, Ste. 110
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 735-1252 / Fax (802) 862-9637
www.VTGyn.com
[email protected]
Eli Burke, M.Ed, MSW, LICSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Expressive Arts Therapy
PO Box 915
Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 257-4880
I maintain a private therapy practice, where many of my clients are LGBT youth and young adults. With over 25 years experience in clinical fields, I currently work with clients experiencing trauma, depression, anxiety and adjustment issues. I am a certified EMDR practitioner, as well as utilize expressive art therapies for treatment modalities. My fee is $115 per clinical hour, and I accept Medicaid and Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Dan Duval MA LCMHC
12 Lower Main Street
Johnson, Vt 05656
(802) 730-3921
&
Dan Duval MA LCMHC
New England Counseling and Trauma Associates
25 Wentworth Drive
Williston, Vt. 05495
(802) 878-4990 & (802) 730-3921
Licensed mental health counselor in Vermont. I am well versed in the mental health needs of the LGBT community. I see adults and children of all ages. I provide individual, couples and family therapy. I am also a trained play therapist. I work with the trans population and am willing to write letters for transition when appropriate.
Diane Montgomery-Logan
99 Hall Street
Winooski, VT 05404
(802) 860-9500
[email protected]
www.dianemontgomerylogan.com
REAL ESTATE:
Betty McEnaney
McEnaney and Company
Ludlow Vermont
802-228-2323
[email protected]
www.gotVermont.com
I would love to be an ally for any GLBT who is hoping to buy a home in the Southern Vermont area. FYI, I am a mom of a gay son. I have helped many, many couples accomplish the dream of homeownership, and nothing pleases me more!