Los Angeles — Southern California LGBT Law Attorney
Serving All Areas of Southern California
Bennett & Erdman provides many services to meet the needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered ("LGBT") people. With our many years of experience in this field, we believe we are uniquely qualified to assist you with your LGBT law matter.
Located in Los Angeles, while serving LGBT individuals and couples throughout Southern California, we feature attorneys with nearly 30 years of experience serving the LGBT community, including two attorneys who are Certified Family Law Specialists.*
In addition, our attorneys are active in local and national LGBT organizations. One of our founders, Roberta Bennett was a founding board member of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center and is involved in many community organizations such as Access Now for Gay and Lesbian Equality (ANGLE), The Victory Fund, National Lesbian & Gay Task Force, The Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up! (POWER-UP), Human Rights Campaign, Southern California Women for Understanding, The Lesbian & Gay Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, and others..
Partner Jeffrey Erdman is also active in several LGBT organizations. He has served on the board and as president of The Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and served on the board of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association. He has also served as the Chair of the California State Bar Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination and as a member of the California Judicial Council's Access and Fairness Advisory Committee, and he is involved with Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Human Rights Campaign Fund, and others.
For additional information about us, the benefits of retaining our services and the other areas of our practice, please visit our firm overview page.
Bennett & Erdman — Lawyers for Your Life
To discuss your LGBT law matter with an experienced attorney who is also a Certified Family Law Specialist, please call 323-935-0041 or 310-824-0471.
Los Angeles Area LGBT Law and Same Sex Marriage Lawyer
- Same-sex marriage: Since the California Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples may marry in California, and that the state must recognize such marriages from other states or countries, Californians will need legal counseling on a variety of matters relating to such marriages, including the legal effect of such marriages, the dissolution thereof, and the recognition that such marriages may have outside the state.
- Domestic partnerships: Currently, California allows same-sex couples, as well as opposite couples where one party is over the age of 62, to register as domestic partners as an alternative to marriage. Such domestic partnerships invoke most, although not all, of the same rights, responsibilities and requirements of marriages. Entirely different legal principles and requirements are invoked for partnerships that are not registered, including many that may be applied to issues of ownership or control of assets whether or not titled in both parties' names.
- Parenting issues: LGBT couples encounter unique issues pertaining to parenting matters, both at the time families are formed and when families are divided. Such LGBT couples need experienced counseling to ensure that all parties are making informed decisions and protecting or enforcing their rights and responsibilities in a meaningful way.
- Estate planning for same-sex couples: LGBT individuals often have unusual estate planning needs, which can be impacted in a substantial way by how estates and/or the transfer of property on death will be taxed in a way that would not occur for opposite-sex married couples. Specialized planning can be invaluable for such individuals.
- Name and gender change: LGBT individuals may have the need to legally change their name or gender to reflect important life changes they have made. Navigating the system with experience counsel can make the process easier.
- Domestic violence: LGBT individuals have the right under California law to seek protection from acts of violence or harassment by anyone with whom they have had a relationship or simply shared a residence.
For information about California LGBT law, or to discuss your individual matter with a skilled attorney who is also a Certified Family Law Specialist, we invite you to call us at 323-935-0041 or 310-824-0471. If you choose, you can fill out our intake form and an experienced lawyer will contact you.
*Certification by the California Board of Legal Specialization.
