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