By Frederick Hertz & Emily Doskow
Published By Nolo
KF 539 .H475 2018
Marriage, while viewed as a civil rights struggle for some, is still a social institution, one that has survived for more than 2,000 years. This notion is one that the author of Making It Legal: A Guide to Same-Sex Marriage, Domestic Partnerships & Civil Unions stresses. The author, a divorce lawyer, wants couples to enter their relationships, and especially their marital unions, with the full knowledge of what the institution of marriage means and what the potential risks and benefits might be for both parties. He explains the rules of marriage as they relate to assets acquired during the marriage, debts and liabilities incurred during the marriage, death and property transfers, and tax consequences. That section is followed by a discussion of the rules of divorce and parentage issues. The author also touches upon the real-life consequences of legal discrimination and how those risks can be minimized. He counsels couples to not enter into a union without first following his “Ten-Step Recipe for Partnership Decision Making.” Subsequent chapters address premarital agreements, avoiding the “ugly gay divorce,” and estate planning for same-sex couples.
Before you say “I do,” have a look at Making It Legal: A Guide to Same-Sex Marriage, Domestic Partnerships & Civil Unions and learn how marriage will affect your family and finances.