Make sure you have a safety net of legal documents including wills, health care proxies, adoption and parenting agreements. These resources can help you be prepared.

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley - LGBTQ Legal Project
LSHV provides free civil legal services to those LGBTQ individuals who cannot afford an attorney in a wide array of civil legal services throughout Westchester County. Call (877) 574-8529 to obtain assistance.

Lambda Legal Help Desk
During Help Desk hours, Lambda Legal staff respond directly to people who are seeking legal information and assistance with sexual orientation-related and HIV/AIDS-related discrimination. Phone: (212) 809-8585

National Center for Lesbian Rights
NCLR is a national legal resource center which primarily focuses on the rights of lesbians and their families.  Resources are also provided to gay men, and bisexual and transgendered individuals on key issues.  The Web site offers downloads of essential legal documents for protecting relationships and parenting arrangements

2008 Law Expands Access to Family Court
This law (Chapter 326, Laws of New York, 2008) amends the definition of "members of the same family or household," providing protections to victims of domestic violence who were formerly not covered by the 1994 NYS Family Protection and Domestic Violence Act, expanding access to civil orders of protection to persons in same-sex relationships, teens, unmarried co-habitants without children legally in common and others in intimate relationships. Pace Women's Justice Center can provide in-depth explanations.

Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force
LGIRTF is a coalition that addresses the impact of discriminatory immigration laws on the lives of those in the LGBT community and immigrants who are living with HIV/AIDS.

Service Members Legal Defense Network
SLDN is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and related forms of intolerance.  Call (800) 538-7418 for free, confidential legal counseling.