Making it Legal: A Guide to Same-Sex Marriage, Domestic Partnership & Civil Unions
Books / Paperback
Books › Law › Family Law › General
ISBN: 1413309844 / Publisher: NOLO, August 2009
The most up-to-date and complete guide to same-sex relationships that exists.
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11,000 couples have married in California since the Supreme Court legalized marriage in May of 2008, and nearly as many married in Massachusetts between May of 2004. Further, nearly a quarter of the U.S. population lives in a state with some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples – with more than 40% of these states’ couples having registered their relationships.Authored by a Frederick Hertz, a nationally recognized expert in same-sex relationship law, Making it Legal is a comprehensive, easy to understand guide to the past, present and future of same-sex law in America. The book offers lesbians and gay men a comprehensive review of all of the issues that influence the decision to marry and helps the reader navigate the complexity of same-sex laws and understand the newest legal options while providing practical guidance on how to make one of the most important decisions in one’s lifetime.The book provides a brief history of the same-sex marriage movement, a survey of the current legal landscape and a view toward emerging trends and targets, and moves on to a discussion of the factors involved in the personal decision to marry along with the issues that every married couple may face: • Is a pre-nup advisable and what does it involve? • How to evaluate the effect of taxes on shared lives • When is a will or trust needed • What are the special needs of couples with kids • When to turn to professionals for help during disagreements • Working with step-parents, past partners, and the blended family And much more.
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