The Nontraditional Couples and Families Practice Group is an outgrowth of the firm's Family Law practice. The group comprises attorneys from many different areas of practice nationwide, all of whom focus on providing legal counsel to gay and lesbian couples and other clients who are in "nontraditional" relationships (i.e., couples who by choice or otherwise are not married).

Nontraditional couples do not enjoy many of the protections afforded to heterosexual couples who choose to marry. Hence, there is a vulnerability associated with these relationships that married couples do not typically experience. The practice group is equipped to provide legal counsel to these individuals and couples to help them address the legal issues and complications associated with living together, adoption, separations, estate planning, immigration and real estate transactions. 

The firm has a long history of providing counsel in the areas of estate planning and property issues, mediation, adoption, and prenuptial, post-nuptial and cohabitation agreements.  In 2005, the firm added attorneys with an established immigration practice. The firm's experience in the fundamentals of these areas of law, coupled with the unique focus described above, provides the foundation for this practice group.

The legal services offered by the Nontraditional Couples and Families Practice Group include:

• Consultations
• Review status of current laws
• Domestic partner and cohabitation agreements
• Estate planning and wealth retention counseling, including wills and trusts
• Asset ownership and tax planning
• Durable Powers of Attorney and Living Wills
• Adoptions
• Real estate and general business advice
• Litigation
• Immigration
• Alternate Dispute Resolution
• Mediation
• Arbitration
• Change of name

In addition to these services, our attorneys present periodic seminars regarding estate planning and other important legal matters for gay men and lesbians, and others in nontraditional relationships.

The goal of the Nontraditional Couples and Families Practice Group is to provide clients with the highest level of service on a broad range of issues, recognizing that the needs of such clients may not be adequately met by traditional legal structures. We recognize and understand the unique and challenging issues, and believe that with the proper preparation, our clients can achieve comfort and confidence that they have put the appropriate plans in place. As in the case of any attorney/client relationship, our clients can be confident that they can speak to us in the strictest confidence, and that we will address their issues with the utmost privacy and sensitivity.

In addition to the services outlined above, our practice group draws upon other practice groups in the firm to handle other legal issues faced by those in faced by those in nontraditional relationships. Whether it be starting a new business and securing venture capital, or addressing labor and employment issues for an existing business, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney has the resources and experience to assist our clients.