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.

Authors Frederick Hertz and Lina Guillen begin the introduction to their book, A Legal Guide for Lesbian & Gay Couples, with “[t]his is a book about family values, and about the value of family.” It is designed to help couples navigate relationships and the issues that these partnerships or unions may produce or trigger. Because this is a book about family values, it is only fitting that the authors begin with the definition of family and how that definition has evolved into a more inclusive and neutral definition. This is followed by a discussion of practical matters that families may face, including financial issues, renting or buying a home together, healthcare decisions, and estate planning, plus issues dealing with separations and dissolutions.