R002748
Tuesday, March 26, 2002 6:22 PM
Equitable Solution
Fwd: This isn't rightI would suggest, , to those who might want to fight for an equitable solution, that ANY unmarried person with no children have a check given to his or her estate by the fund, exempted from any estate taxes. In that way, if the domestic partners were "married", and the survivor is the rightful heir in the will, s/he would receive this compensation. If the deceased saw fit to make other final provisions, then we could not fault the government for honoring them. All is fair. If there as no will, most states would pass the assets to the next of kin, but at least then parents or other loved ones would also not be penalized by the fact that a gay relative died without a "spouse" or children. Just a thought, if it helps anyone.
I hope that, even if absolutely nothing else comes of it, that the situation might make domestic partners think about estate planning, because, as we have been painfully reminded, nothing is certain for any of us, and these issues are far more complicated for us than for others who are better covered by the current laws.
For what it might be worth, I have copied in the email address below (at the victims' fund) on this suggestion, and others may want to do the same.
Individual Comment