Legally Easy

In a 4-3 ruling, the California State Supreme Court has made California the second state (following Massachusets) to rule that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. What does this ruling change for gays and lesbians? Married couples have several rights and protections that are not recognized for most domestic partner-type arrangements. For example, as reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, domestic partners can be denied certain benefits of marriage under federal law, such as filing joint federal tax returns, social security survivor's benefits and immigration sponsorship rights. Prenuptial Agreement arrangements and Estate Planning are major considerations for any married couple and these issues will now be the substantially the same for homosexual couples as for heterosexual married people. RocketLawyer.com recommends that all persons considering marriage think about a Prenuptial Agreement, which will help avoid economic problems in the event of a divorce. Once married, couples should ensure that they have at least three basic legal documents for themselves and their spouse: a Living Will, a Durable Power of Attorney and a Last Will and Testament. If you are unsure about the legal documents you need, the RocketLawyer.com Free Legal Care Check-Up is always a good place to start. For more information about the California Supreme Court same-sex marriage ruling, here is Attorney Gloria Allred.

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