Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Culturally Competent Representation
Introduction
1.1. Key Terms Defined
1.2. Practice Recommendations
1.2.1. Education and Training
1.2.2. How to Make a Law Office a Safe, Respectful, and Welcoming Place for Transgender
Clients, Visitors, and Staff
1.2.3. Preliminary Contact with a Potential Client
1.2.4. Client Communications, Court Documents, and Court Appearances
1.2.5. Role of Transgender Client’s Transgender Status in the Case
1.2.6. How to Address Bias and Educate Opposing Counsel, Judge, Jury, and Court Personnel
1.2.7. Impact of Legal Tactics and Appeals
Chapter 2: Recognition of Name and Sex
Introduction
2.1. Change of Legal Name
2.2. Change of Legal Sex
2.2.1. Amended Birth Certificates
2.2.2. Equitable Court Orders Establishing Legal Sex
2.3. Changing Name and/or Sex Designation on Identity Documents
2.3.1. Driver’s License or State Identification Card
2.3.2. Passport
2.3.3. Social Security Database
2.4. Practice Recommendations
2.4.1. Use Client’s Post-transition Name and Pronouns in Legal Proceedings Unless Doing So Is
Inconsistent with Client’s Priorities
Chapter 3: Relationship Recognition and Protections
Introduction
3.1. Building a Respectful Attorney-Client Relationship: Understanding the Client’s Sexual Orientation
3.2. Pre-transition Marriages and Marriage Equivalents
3.3. Post-transition Marriages and Marriage Equivalents
3.3.1. Advising a Transgender Client About Marriage or Another Legally Recognized Relationship
Status
3.3.2. Defending a Client’s Marriage Against a Fraud Claim
3.3.3. Draft Legal Instruments to Protect a Transgender Client Against a Possible Challenge to
the Validity of Her/His Marriage
3.4. Federal Recognition of a Transgender Client’s Marriage
3.4.1. Marriage-Based Social Security Benefits and Transgender Clients
3.4.2. Marriage-Based Immigration Benefits and Transgender Clients
3.5. Legal Protections for Transgender People in Relationships and Who Do Not Marry
Chapter 4: Protecting Parental Rights
Introduction
4.1. Legal Parentage
4.1.1. Transgender Persons and Legal Parentage
4.1.2. Termination of Parental Rights Because of Transgender Status
4.2. Child Biologically Related to Transgender Parent
4.2.1. Medical Consents and Legal Agreements
4.2.2. Pre-birth Decrees, Parentage Judgments, and Adoptions
4.3. Child Adopted by Transgender Parent
4.3.1. Second-Parent or Co-parent Adoption
4.3.2. Agency Adoption
4.4. Child Born of a Marriage and Not Biologically Related to Transgender Parent
4.5. Child Born to Unmarried Parents and Not Biologically Related to Transgender Parent
Chapter 5: Divorce and Relationship Dissolution
Introduction
5.1. Impact of Gender Transition on Marriage
5.2. Issues Potentially Impacted By Gender Transition
5.2.1. Annulment
5.2.2. Gender Transition as Grounds for Divorce and its Impact on Support and Property
Distribution
5.2.3. Dissolution of Marriage Equivalents
5.2.4. Dissolution of Non-Marital Relationships
5.3. Practice Recommendations
5.3.1. Defensive and Offensive References to Transgender Identity in Divorce and Dissolution
Cases
5.3.2. Cases in Which to Avoid Any Reference to Transgender Identity
Chapter 6: Parental Rights After Relationship Dissolution
Introduction
6.1. Parental Status
6.2. Best Interests of the Child Standard
6.3. Confronting Discrimination Against Transgender Parents In Custody/Visitation Determinations
6.3.1. Good Case Law: Examples of Courts’ Appropriate Treatment of a Parent’s Transgender
Status
6.3.2. Bad Case Law: Examples of Discrimination Against a Transgender Parent
6.3.3. Combating Restrictive Orders and Requirements Regarding Parenting
6.3.4. Analogous Arguments: HIV/AIDS Status, Sexual Orientation, and Best Interests of the
Child
6.4. Practice Recommendations for Countering Discrimination Against a Transgender Parent Client
6.4.1. Parenting Advice
6.4.2. Guardian Ad Litem
6.4.3. Vigilance in Discovery and Fact Finding
6.4.4. Alternative Dispute Resolution
6.5. Conclusion
Chapter 7: Custody Disputes Involving Transgender Children
Introduction
7.1. A Note on the Diversity of Transgender Identities
7.2. Standards for Parental Fitness and Best Interests of the Child
7.2.1. When Parents Agree on How to Deal with a Transgender Child
7.2.2. When Parents Do Not Agree on How to Deal with a Transgender Child
7.3. Practice Recommendations
7.3.1. Determine the Scope of the Parent’s Authority over Medical Decision Making
7.3.2. Encourage the Supportive Parent to Obtain and Document Professional Medical
Guidance
7.3.3. Encourage Communication Between Custodial and Noncustodial Parents
7.3.4. Encourage Supportive Parent to Slowly Accommodate Child’s Gender Identity
7.3.5. Consider the Age of the Child
7.3.6. Prepare to Present Expert Testimony
7.3.7. Insist that Any Court-Appointed Evaluator Has Expertise in Dealing with
Transgender Children
7.3.8. Be Prepared to Rebut Religious Arguments
7.3.9. Look to Other Professionals and Witnesses in the Child’s Life
7.3.10. Keep the Focus on the Best Interests of the Child
Chapter 8: Legal Protections for Transgender Youth
Introduction
8.1. Identifying the Client
8.1.1. Practice Suggestions for Working with Youth (If Youth Is the Client)
8.2. Social Transition
8.2.1. Name Change
8.2.2. Sealing Records and Protecting the Client’s Privacy
8.3. Medical Transition
8.3.1. Payment for Medical Transition
8.4. Emancipation
8.5. Transgender Youth in the Custody of the State
8.5.1. Foster Care
8.5.2. The Juvenile Justice System
8.6. Transgender Youth in Shelters
8.7. Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth in Schools
8.7.1. Change of Name and Gender Marker in Student Records
8.7.2. Nondiscrimination Laws
8.7.3. Dress Codes
8.7.4. Special Education Laws
8.7.5. Bullying
8.8. General Practice Recommendations for Working with Transgender Youth
Chapter 9: Intimate Partner Violence
Introduction
9.1. Intimate Partner Violence and Transgender Clients
9.1.1. Intimate Partner Violence Basics
9.1.2. Intimate Partner Violence Involving a Transgender Spouse or Partner
9.1.3. Difference between BDSM and Abuse
9.2. Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Family Law
9.2.1. Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Family Law Representation Generally
9.2.2. Custody Remedies for Survivors
9.2.3. Divorce and Relationship Dissolution for Survivors
9.2.4. Estate Planning
9.3. Specific Intimate Partner Violence-Related Legal Remedies
9.3.1. Protective Orders
9.3.2. Criminal Advocacy
9.3.3. Immigration Remedies for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
9.4. Safety Planning and Other Issues
9.4.1. Safety Planning
9.4.2. Screening Questions
9.4.3. Sex-Segregated Services/Facilities and Intimate Partner Violence
9.4.4. Resources for Abusers
Chapter 10: Estate Planning and Elder Law
Introduction
10.1. Surviving Spouse’s or Partner’s Ability to Inherit
10.1.1. Intestacy
10.1.2. Probate Process
10.1.3. Considerations for Transgender Clients
10.1.4. Practice Recommendations: Disposition of Property at Death
10.2. Medical Decision Making
10.2.1. Overview
10.2.2. Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney for Health Care
10.2.3. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
10.2.4. Practice Recommendations: Drafting End-of-Life Decision-Making Documents
10.3. Financial Decision Making
10.3.1. Durable Power of Attorney
10.3.1.1. Practice Recommendations: Drafting a Durable Power of Attorney
10.4. Estate Planning for Clients Who Are Disabled or Terminally Ill
10.4.1. Standby Guardianship Laws
10.4.2. Appointment after the Death of the Parent
10.4.3. Guardianship Considerations
10.5. Postmortem Instructions
10.6. Housing for Transgender Elders
10.6.1. Bias or Discrimination in Elder Housing
10.6.2. Advocacy
Appendix