Same-Sex Partners and Family Law: Navigating Marriage Portability, Asset Division, Support and Custody
Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A
This CLE course will prepare family law counsel for managing legal challenges facing same-sex partners, particularly with a growing number of states overturning same-sex marriage bans.
Outline
- Portability of marriage
- Agreements entered by parties during the relationship
- Separation agreements
- Divorce
- Property division
- Adoption issues
- Custodial issues
- Support of former partner and support of children
- Negotiating and drafting considerations
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key questions:
- How can counsel apply existing laws to same-sex issues in family law?
- What best practices should counsel consider in handling custody issues in the context of “second parent adoption” and reproductive assistance technologies, and disputes as to which parent will receive custody in the event of dissolution?
- What approaches should practitioners consider in drafting agreements during relationships and separation agreements?
Following the speaker presentations, you'll have an opportunity to get answers to your specific questions during the interactive Q&A.
Faculty

Randall M. Kessler
Founding Partner
Kessler & Solomiany
Mr. Kessler has over 20 years of experience in domestic relations and family law matters including divorce,... | Read More
Mr. Kessler has over 20 years of experience in domestic relations and family law matters including divorce, custody, paternity, prenuptial agreements and child support. He is Past Chair of the Family Law Sections of both the American Bar Association and the Georgia Bar Association. He is a frequent presenter, author and media commentator on family law issues.
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Allison Mendel
Atty
Mendel & Associates
Ms. Mendel's practice focuses on family law, civil rights, and appellate matters in both state and federal courts.... | Read More
Ms. Mendel's practice focuses on family law, civil rights, and appellate matters in both state and federal courts. Her wide-ranging appellate practice has resulted in numerous reported decisions in the Alaska Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit. She has also been at the forefront of litigating issues relating to the legal rights of same-sex partners and their children.
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Cathy Sakimura
Staff Attorney & Family Protection Project Director
National Center for Lesbian Rights
Ms. Sakimura is the Director of the Family Protection Project at the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The... | Read More
Ms. Sakimura is the Director of the Family Protection Project at the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The Family Protection Project works to improve access to family law services for low-income LGBT parents and their children, with a focus on increasing services to families of color. She also works on NCLR’s general family law litigation docket.
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Michele Zavos
Atty
Zavos Juncker Law Group
With over 30 years of experience, Ms. Zavos' practice is particularly focused on developing legal protections for... | Read More
With over 30 years of experience, Ms. Zavos' practice is particularly focused on developing legal protections for families, including families headed by same-sex couples. She served on the Board of Directors for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force for 3 years and was one of the first co-chairs of the Gay and Lesbian Subcommittee of the D.C. Bar.
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