Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Rights Lawyer
Proudly Serving the Connecticut GLBTI community
Law Offices of Irene C. Olszewski, LLC
The information presented here is only meant to offer a brief guide to lesbian and gay law in Connecticut. It is not and should not be construed as legal advice and does not form an attorney/client relationship. Questions about your individual circumstances should be discussed with a licensed attorney. A Connecticut gay and lesbian rights attorney at the Law Offices of Irene C. Olszewski, LLC is available to assist you in your legal matters and answer your questions about gay and lesbian legal issues in Connecticut.
The law, as it applies to the lesbian and gay community, is an ever-changing landscape. Legislators will continue to enact laws that either expand or restrict the rights of gays and lesbians-- on both a state and federal level. Lawsuits will be filed in opposition to those laws and the outcome of those lawsuits will alter the fate of every member of the GLBTI community. It is certain that gay and lesbian law will continue to change for years to come. For that reason, it is important to remember that the information presented on this website is meant to be an overview. Specific legal questions should always be addressed to a licensed attorney. For more information on your rights as a Connecticut GLBTI citizen, contact a Connecticut gay and lesbian rights lawyer at the Law Offices of Irene C. Olszewski, LLC.
This section of our website is devoted to the legal issues that concern single and coupled lesbians and gays. Links directing you to specific legal topics of interest to the Gay and Lesbian community follow the General Legal Information section below.
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April 23, 2009: Governor M. Jodi Rell signs into law SB-899, which removes demeaning anti-gay language from the Connecticut statute and makes the new law consistent with the Kerrigan Supreme Court decision. The new law provides the process for merging civil unions and marriages. |
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November 12, 2008: Same-sex marriage law takes effect in Connecticut. |
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October 10, 2008: Connecticut Supreme Court rules in Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health that same-sex couples have the right to marry in Connecticut. (Note: The link to this case is a ".pdf" file which require the free downloadable program Adobe®Reader® to view). |
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October 1, 2005: Connecticut's Civil Union law went into effect allowing expanded state rights for gays and lesbians in the GLBTI community. |
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April 20, 2005: Connecticut's Governor, M. Jodi Rell, signed "An Act Concerning Civil Unions" (PA 05-10).
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| It is against State law for a lender to discriminate against any adult because of her or his sexual orientation. |
| An employer cannot fire you, deny you a promotion, nor deny you a job opportunity, because of your sexual orientation. |
| You have the right to a room in any hotel, a table at any restaurant, and entrance to any venue of public entertainment (other than a private club) you can afford, and cannot be discriminated against because of your sexual orientation. |
| Any
professional association whose members are licensed by the State of
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| You are legally entitled under State law to buy any house or condo you can afford or to rent any apartment you choose, with the specific exception of a roominghouse or an owner-occupied dwelling of four units or less, regardless of your sexual orientation. |
| Any person who injures or credibly threatens to injure the person or property of a lesbian or gay person because of the victim's sexual orientation may be charged with a hate crime, and if convicted, sentenced to at least a year in jail. |
| You cannot be denied any state service for which you otherwise qualify, based upon your sexual orientation. |
| All lesbian and gay public school students are entitled to protection of school authorities against harassment and are entitled to enjoy equal access to all school programs and activities. |
| You have the right to designate, in writing, someone not related to you by blood to take charge of your funeral, burial or cremation arrangements. |
| You have the right to leave any of your real or personal property to persons not related to you by blood, by means of a written will and/or deed. In the absence of these legal documents, all of your property will be inherited by your biological family, according to the statutory scheme in effect at the time of your death. |
| You have the right to name, in writing, someone not related to you by blood, to make decisions for you and to have unimpeded access to you in the event of a medical emergency. (Absent a written legal document, your biological family can make emergency medical decisions and enjoy unimpeded access to you in the event of a medical emergency). |
| If you are a state employee, you have the right to extend healthcare and other benefits to an unmarried domestic partner. |
| A
lesbian or gay individual may adopt a child under |
| If you are the sole parent of a minor child (meaning that no other parent exists or retains parental rights), you may nominate another adult of any gender to share guardianship of your minor child, subject to approval by your town's probate court. |
For more information, contact a Connecticut lesbian and gay rights lawyer at the Law Offices of Irene C. Olszewski, LLC.
Blog: Connecticut Lesbian and Gay Law
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Does
your life partner automatically inherit your real and/or personal property if you
die without a Will? |
NO.
If you die without a Will (“intestate”), and you have not entered
into marriage or Civil Union, your individually-owned real
and personal property will pass to your biological family, according to the
statutory scheme. However, any
jointly owned property with rights of survivorship will pass to the co-owner,
whether or not that co-owner is a blood relative.
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Does
your life partner have the automatic right to claim your bodily remains upon your
death, and to make arrangements for your funeral, burial or cremation? |
NO.
This automatic right is only granted to heterosexual married couples or
same-sex couples who have entered into marriage or Civil Union.
Upon your death, your biological family has the automatic right to claim
your bodily remains and arrange for your funeral, burial or cremation.
HOWEVER,
you do have the right to execute a
legal document granting your life partner (or other person not related to you by
blood) the authority to claim your bodily remains and arrange for your funeral,
burial or cremation.
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Are you entitled to the Social Security or Veteran’s benefits earned by your life partner? |
NO. Only heterosexual married couples are entitled to the federal Social Security or Veteran’s benefits earned by their spouse. Note that even couples who enter into marriage or civil union in Connecticut do not enjoy these automatic federal benefits.
For more information on your legal rights, contact a Connecticut gay and lesbian rights lawyer at the Law Offices of Irene C. Olszewski, LLC.
Posts From The
Connecticut Marriage & Civil Unions Wills for Lesbians & Gays Trusts
Prenuptial Agreements, Relationship Contracts & Property Settlement Agreements
Co-Parent & Step-Parent Adoption for Gay and Lesbian Couples
Power of Attorney for Lesbians and Gays
Dissolution of Marriage & Civil Unions in Connecticut
Advance Directives & Other Documents for Lesbians & Gays in Connecticut
(Links to Other Websites of Interest)
(free seminars for the Lesbian/Gay community)
Blog: Connecticut Lesbian and Gay Law
Read the Article: "A Year of Questions" **
(**published in Connecticut Law Tribune 12/14/09 about same-sex marriage 1 year after legalization in CT.
Attorney Olszewski was interviewed for this article)
Newsletters: (.pdf files requires Adobe®Reader®).
"Lesbian and Gay Legal Issues & Information" Spring 2008 Newsletter
"Lesbian and Gay Legal Issues & Information" Spring 2007 Newsletter .pdf
"Lesbian and Gay Legal Issues & Information" Winter 2007 Newsletter .pdf
Brochures: (.pdf files requires Adobe®Reader®).
Before You Enter Into Marriage In Connecticut: A Brief Guide for Lesbian & Gay Couples
Brochure .pdf (2009)
"Legal Documents for Same-Gender Couples & LGBT Individuals" Brochure .pdf (2007)
"Before You Enter Into Civil Union in Connecticut" Brochure .pdf (2005)
Blog: Connecticut Lesbian and Gay Law Blog: Attorney O's Midnight Musings
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The Law Offices of Irene C. Olszewski, LLC handles legal matters for LGBTI clients throughout the state of Connecticut including Hartford County, Tolland County, Middlesex County, New Haven County, New London County, Litchfield County, Windham County, and Fairfield County.
Links marked ".pdf" require the free downloadable program Adobe®Reader® to view. Please note that .pdf files may take a few moments to load.
Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal advice. Use of this website and/or the information contained on this website is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship. All legal questions should be addressed to a licensed attorney.
Manchester, Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Rights Lawyer
Proudly Serving the Connecticut GLBTI community
Law Offices of Irene C. Olszewski, LLC