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Phinney Estate Law attorney Jamie Clausen has been serving as the Chair of Legal Affairs committee of the NW LGBT Senior Care Network.  This month she also took over as Communications Director for the organization.  As communications director she will be in charge of their website and online membership directory.

NW LGBT Senior Care Network is nonprofit that advocates for the need of the LGBT community as it ages and seeks to make sure that services are available that are respectful, aware, and inclusive.  Our website is intended to be a resource for the community and list of service providers who are committed to non-discrimination and inclusion.

Jamie Clausen has been a LGBT rights activist since 1995 when she founding the University of Washington's first straight alliance group for LGBT rights "Friends of Pride Dawgs" and served as media relations director for the successful movement to have the University of Washington become the first major University in the United States to provide domestic partnership rights to students.  She is excited to be working with the Network to advocate for an often ignored portion of the LGBT community in this important way.  Too often LGBT seniors are denied services or forced back into the closet because of a lack of awareness of available resources.  It is a situation that must change.

If you would like information on how to get involved because check out the newly launched website or contact Jamie at (206) 459-1908. 

 
 
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Recently released census data shows an increase in same sex couple throughout Washington State.  The greatest concentration of couples continue to be on Vashon Island and Seattle but the census shows most of the growth has been in neighborhoods other than Capital Hill (West Seattle grew 55%!) and in the suburbs and Eastern Washington. 

Some of this growth may be due to the rights provided to registered domestic partners in this state and its perception as a friendly area to move to.  It is likely that other growth simply reflects that more couples are comfortable sharing their status with the census than they were even 10 years ago.  

The census data also reflects a growth in same couples raising children showing that now 20% of all same sex couples are raising children together.

At Phinney Estate Law we are committed to helping all families create estate plans that are right for them and pride ourselves on our service to same sex couples, who often face special challenges become of a lack of recognition at the federal level.  If you like to set up a free consultation to talk about creating a plan for your family, contact us at info@phinneyestatelaw.com or (206) 459-1908