Transgender woman fights to inherit husband's estate
Sat. July 24, 2010 11:46 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Houston -
A transgender woman whose firefighter husband was killed on the job is now fighting her a legal battle to inherit his estate.
Nikki Araguz says her husband knew she was born a man and was perfectly fine with it.
Her mother-in-law Simone Araguz claims that Nikki Araguz is lying, and that since she was born a man, their marriage should never have been recognized by Texas law.
A $600,000 fallen firefighter inheritance is at stake. Half of the money will go to Thomas Araguz's two sons from a previous marriage. The rest is up for grabs, and on Friday, a judge barred Nikki Araguz from getting any more of it until the matter is settled.
"I had been completely honest with him about my entire history: legally, financially, physically, mentally, and medically," Nikki Araguz said. "And I have evidence to prove such facts."
It does seem unlikely that Thomas Araguz didn't know his wife was transgender, given that the Transgender Foundation of America says she's given speeches and done outreach for more than 15 years now on behalf of the LGBT community. The group is accepting donations on her behalf to cover living expenses, since her assets have been frozen.
Nikki Araguz says her husband knew she was born a man and was perfectly fine with it.
Her mother-in-law Simone Araguz claims that Nikki Araguz is lying, and that since she was born a man, their marriage should never have been recognized by Texas law.
A $600,000 fallen firefighter inheritance is at stake. Half of the money will go to Thomas Araguz's two sons from a previous marriage. The rest is up for grabs, and on Friday, a judge barred Nikki Araguz from getting any more of it until the matter is settled.
"I had been completely honest with him about my entire history: legally, financially, physically, mentally, and medically," Nikki Araguz said. "And I have evidence to prove such facts."
It does seem unlikely that Thomas Araguz didn't know his wife was transgender, given that the Transgender Foundation of America says she's given speeches and done outreach for more than 15 years now on behalf of the LGBT community. The group is accepting donations on her behalf to cover living expenses, since her assets have been frozen.