It is important for everyone to understand their legal rights and obligations when it comes to their relationships with others. This is even more important for members of the LGBT community. While the law establishes certain rights and rules for married couples, those same rights and rules do not apply to unmarried couples. Pennsylvania will not likely recognize gay marriage anytime soon. There are steps, however, that you can take to protect yourself, your partner and your loved ones.
Click on our The purpose of this page is to introduce you to some issues that should be considered when planning. While this discussion is far from complete, hopefully, it will encourage you to talk to your partner, pursue these matters and seek the advice of counsel with an understanding of the needs of LGBT clients.
Click on our Life and Estate Planning for the LGBT Community page for more information.
Paul R. Cohen has worked with numerous LGBT clients addressing their planning needs. He has spoken at several continuing education programs instructing attorneys on the needs of the LGBT community. He is a faculty member of the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization associated with the Philadelphia Foundation. In 2008, Paul received the Platinum Award from the DVLF for his commitment to the LGBT community.
Posted
Sun, 02/14/2010 - 4:07pm by Paul Cohen
On January 12, 2010, the Newtown Borough Council unanimously appointed Paul R. Cohen as municipal solicitor. In this position, Paul will advise Borough Council, the Mayor and Police Chief on all legal matters. In addition to providing general counsel and attending all Council meetings, Paul will review contracts, litigate disputes and zoning appeals, draft ordinances and resolutions, provide legal opinions on a variety of matters and represent the Borough during conditional use hearings and land development presentations.
In addition to Newtown Borough, our firm also serves as Solicitor for the Bucks County Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. We are special counsel for Upper Southampton Township and assist the Solicitor for Penndel Borough, Upper Southampton Township and the Upper Southampton Sewer Authority. Colin Jenei previously served as Solicitor for New Hope Borough and Bedminster Township.
The attorneys of Jenei & Cohen, P.C. regularly represent landowners before municipal boards and commissions throughout Bucks County, including recent work in Solebury Township, New Hope Borough, Upper Makefield Township, Buckingham Township and Newtown Township.
Posted
Sun, 01/31/2010 - 4:32pm by Paul Cohen
The Bucks County Court of Common Pleas reversed the Bucks County Board of Assessment Appeals and granted an exemption from Real Estate taxes to Paul R. Cohen's client. The decision will save the non-profit client over $25,000 a year in taxes.
The non-profit is a private school located in Bucks County, occupying a 90 acre campus. Although most of the land was previously determined to be exempt from real estate taxes, the Bucks County Board of Assessment levied a tax on a 5-acre piece of land containing 10 faculty and administrative residences. At trial, the County and School District argued that the housing was not necessary for the purposes of the School. In his trial brief, Paul R. Cohen concluded as follows:
At the hearing, counsel for the Board of Assessment suggested that exemption should be denied based on the fact that other residences exist on campus and the occupants of those residences would be able to provide adequate service to the School. This argument would essentially force this Court to put its own judgment as to the needs of the School and of the children on campus ahead of the judgment of [the School's] Administrators, Board of Trustees and their collective experience. The School is required only to demonstrate that it has a “reasonable necessity . . . embracing the idea of convenience and usefulness for the purposes intended, and is not required to prove. . .” absolute necessity. In re: Swarthmore College, 165 Pa. Cmwlth. 564, 570, 645 A.2d 470, 472 (1994). This burden has been met.
Ultimately, the Court granted the request for an exemption without a written opinion and the Board of Assessment and School District did not appeal.
Posted
Sun, 12/06/2009 - 10:08pm by Paul Cohen
