Family challenges lesbian adoption

[deadparrot]

PORTLAND, Maine - In their 14-year relationship, Patricia Spado and Olive Watson spent only five nights apart. They lived in New York, spent summers in Maine, and shared the more practical pieces of a life together — a home, a joint bank account.

But in a time long before civil unions or gay marriage, Watson wanted to ensure that her partner would be taken care of when she was no longer there. So, at a small courthouse in coastal Maine, she adopted Spado.

Fifteen years later, the adoption is being challenged in courts in Connecticut and Maine as Olive Watson's family parcels out the family fortune — and contests their newfound heir.

The case, according to gay activists, is rare and offers an example of how far same-sex couples have gone to attain financial and inheritance protections that married couples take for granted.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070226/ap_on_re_us/adult_adoption

[Warpy]

1. This just points out what civil marriage is at its core

It's the promotion of a non relative into first degree relative status. It is absolutely essential when it comes to caring for an ill or incapacitated partner, for claiming a partner's body after death for burial, for custody of any children after death or dissolution of the relationship, and for inheritance.

There are too many sad stories like this one. The only solution is civil marriage, no matter what they call it so fundies don't get their undies in a wad.

Rights first. The name can be squabbled over later.

[XemaSab]

2. I'm confused

Were they still together at the time of Watson's death, and what did Watson's will say? :shrug:

[XemaSab]

4. Okay, they had broken up, but after the breakup

Watson still considered Spado her heir.

This is a really depressing story. :(

[all.of.me]

8. seems like they split up in '92,

watson died in '93 unaware of the adoption. the mom died in '04, and i guess now is the time to split up the estate among the grandchildren, which spado legally is.

[all.of.me]

3. wow, that is really complicated.

the adoption laws for each state, the wills and their interpretations. and they have not been together since 1992. i will be curious to see the outcome of this. it is sad that same-sex couples need to go to these lengths. i imagine this will set some precedents. and bring the rw down even harder on it.

[XemaSab]

6. Marriage would make this a lot simpler

If they had gotten married, then they could have gotten divorced and re-defined their legal relationship and responsibilities, if Watson so chose.

[all.of.me]

7. i don't disagree with that!

[closeupready]

9. Yep, this is the kind of workaround that

turns into snafus like this. Doesn't help anyone.

[elehhhhna]

5. Any well written will or trust has a "no contest" clause --

which states that whoever contests the document is automatically CUT OUT from any inheritance.

[TexasLawyer]

10. A lesson on why gay marriage should be recognized

If states allowed gay marriages or at least civil unions--and also made official divorces available if and when the civil union ends-- this complicated situation would never have developed.