Issues Affecting Same-Sex Couples FAQ

Questions:

• What is the status of same-sex marriage among the various states?
• Does the federal government recognize same-sex marriage?
• Should same-sex couples get married?
• Will the U.S. government or another state recognize my same-sex marriage?
• Do same-sex couples face special concerns when it comes to taxes?
• What are domestic partnership benefits?
• Can lesbian and gay couples adopt children?
• How does a married or registered same-sex couple end their marriage or domestic partnership?

Answer:

What is the status of same-sex marriage among the various states?

The legal landscape of same-sex marriage is ever-changing. As of July 2013, California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia (D.C.), Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington allow same-sex couples to get married and enjoy all of the benefits of marriage provided by the state.

Other states recognize marriage-like relationships that provide varying levels of benefits to same-sex couples. Domestic partnerships are available in Nevada and Oregan and will continue to be available in California, D.C., and Washington (for senior couples) even though these states also allow same-sex marriage. Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois and New Jersey provide civil unions. Wisconsin provides some limited statewide spousal rights to same-sex couples.

To learn more about same-sex relationship recognition in the United States, see Nolo's article, Same-Sex Marriage: Developments in the Law.